Durango School Talk

May 7, 2008 Please check our blog for more up to date postings when they happen. When we get too busy we know you have the Durango Herald education coverage.

Wonderful news: Dr. Keith Owen has accepted the offer from our Durango School Board to become our new Durango School District superintendent effective July 1st.

Congratulations are in order for him and appreciation for the board members and their steadfast commitment to including the public in the search process. Dr. Owen was well received at the recent public forum for his fresh ideas and abundant energy, his leadership as an elementary school principal and developer of a remarkable reading program , and most recently, as Chief Academic Officer for the Pueblo School District.
Read more at the Durango School District website.

Small Schools As plans get underway to create the small learning communities at our large comprehensive high school, look back at a Durango Herald editorial from 2002. Let's hope that great ideas like "small schools" and research like Lindamood-Bell gain traction a whole lot faster with Dr. Owen's arrival...six years ago there were a lot of us asking for a number of conversations to begin including dyslexia advocate Anne Spence. She corresponded with Keith Owen in the hopes that 9-R would look at videotapes of the program he was developing. How exciting for her that he is our new superintendent. Luckily, Durango is a community with an abundance of positive, energetic folks still ready and willing to work with both Durango High and Animas High on innovative school design and best practices for all students. We welcome a new era in which citizens may really have a seat at the table!

Hard not to be surprised and disappointed when the search process to replace Superintendent Mary Barter was derailed in February - many having appreciated meeting finalists at the Miller forums and hearing refreshing ideas and answers. For reasons that remain mysterious, the chosen candidate withdrew her name rather abruptly after a site visit and teachers' union opposition Cunningham withdraws application. The search process has resumed. We commend the board for its efforts to include the public in meaningful ways. They are working hard in the face of rumors originating from senior staff blaming board for what the Herald has described as District divisions "exacerbated by a culture of secrecy." Look back to where we were a year ago and see how far they've come. They inherited a full plate, with reestablishing trust and transparency at the top of their list. Their televised meetings look "messier" than in prior years because they are willing to allow the public to see that they are not always "in synch." Unlike previous board meetings, these broadcasts show elected officials struggling to incorporate more ideas and viewpoints in addressing the reality of District challenges. A commitment to our community's children is the reason we elected them. Now it's time to stand behind them. Get involved and informed directly. Sit in on board meetings, meet the board members during intermissions. Most of all, don't rely on heresay. For now, watch meetings online, posted by the Friday following the board meeting at http://www.durangoschools.org /board/videos.shtml . And in the near future, look for them live on DCAT. Should make a big difference to those used to grabbing a jacket and heading to a City Council meeting as your favorite topic comes up. Contact information for Board Members is on 9-R website

Update on superintendent search process 3/22/08. Board deserves thanks, not criticism for going the extra mile. As compared with recent City of Durango and La Plata County manager selection proceedings, consider the hundreds of hours our volunteer board members have spent since August to make sure ordinary citizens (not just teachers or parents) are included in meaningful ways in finding the best candidate to lead our District. (No aspersions cast on city and county choices!! Both attracted and hired excellent applicants for its top jobs! ) If you are interested in applying for a seat at the table to help with the selection, applications are being accepted until Thursday Mar. 27 at 5pm. ( for details.) Read search firm's summary of our community concerns.

Background on process so far:

District 9-R restarts search for superintendent candidates Hazard Young and Attea expect to bring the board new candidates in early April.

The (Durango 9-R) board contracted early last fall with Hazard, Young, Attea to help in the process of selecting a replacement for Superintendent Mary Barter whose request to extend her contract was denied last spring during a particularly troubling time. Hazard, Young, Attea prepared a summary of community concerns which are helpful in conversations with the 3 candidates:

Why was Superintendent Mary Barter's contract not extended? The current search for new leadership follows a turbulent period in which district relationships with the community frayed and "trust" became the big issue. The next superintendent will likely change a public engagement strategy in which parents and community have been kept at arm's length from their representatives, citing "Policy Governance" and fears that listening to constituent concerns will lead to micromanaging. A "tell and sell" PR policy gradually evolved and substituted for genuine transparency and open lines of communication. "Policy Governance" - a governance model used by 9-R elected officials and invented by John Carver - is sure to be in the spotlight. It has been called "a superintendent's dream" meaning that it is easily misused unless the whole model as designed by Carver is used. It was the public piece that was omitted for many years. After its adoption, successive boards may have drawn up excellent policies but in "monitoring" them, they used information supplied by the superintendent and omitted information coming from outside the organization - i.e., students, parents, community and business interests. Gradually that led to members of these groups having to speak at the microphone out of context at board meetings to bring differing viewpoints to the board. The Public Information Officer frequently used her office and letters to the editor to characterize individuals with opinions differing from the superintendent's as "critics" and "naysayers." PIO Deborah Uroda resigned abruptly in December, citing the public for attacking public servants with "rudeness and incivility and name-calling." We believe the next superintendent will work with the board and revisit the District's public information strategies- especially looking at how the "press release" approach may have contributed to often cited trust and communications problems between administration, staff, teachers and citizens.

SCROLL through Durango Herald education stories below.

July 2007 9-R's "secret survey results" are no longer under wraps. "Survey results criticize, praise" Durango Herald, July 8, 2007 -- 9-R's Public Information officer Deborah Uroda claims the 662 respondents were not a "scientifically randomized sample" and thus, any conclusions would be "problematic." If 9-R administrators shed their current obsession with quantitative analyses, a reading of comments now labeled "irrelevant" might enlighten them on community efforts to create alternatives to 9-R. Instead, senior staff seem intent on viewing charter schools as money drains.

9-R Skeptical of Charter 6/13/07 9-R District and superintendent Mary Barter react with alarm more than interest or possibilities for collaborating with Animas High School

9-R ponders superintendent hire 6/20/07 What qualities do we need and want for our next superintendent? Stay tuned to Board's search for a firm to find Barter replacement.

9-R refused to release results of a survey that Board members requested in attempts to get information about culture and morale at Durango High School despite two FOIA requests . However, 1500 comments were subsequently obtained by Herald many of which were unflattering but useful for beginning a discussion of this taboo topic - "problems at Durango High School."

"We seem to be intent on sucking the joy out of learning at DHS. I sure wouldn't want to be here if I was 15 years old.” -- DHS staff member
"... teachers "feel there will be retribution if they get out of line" with their administrators. -- DHS staff member
A parent of a 10th-grade student described Superintendent Mary Barter as "uninterested in opinions that differ from her own."

Background: "Barter and 9-R" 3/16/07
New schools coming, special education issues continue. 9-R loses exclusive charter authority 5/12/07 " Window opens for new charter school"
Animas High School 6/15/07 Durango Herald Editorial
"It makes sense to look into a well-researched, proven model for a charter school. Animas High School could be a successful addition to 9-R's high school offerings."
9-R Skeptical of Charter 6/13/07 "Animas High has already received more than 100 letters of intent to enroll and 39 offers from businesses to host student interns."
History of Durango's proposed alternatives:
Parents seek DHS alternative 4/4/07
Drafting a new school 4/10/07
Private school to tackle dyslexia 4/14/07
Durango mother requests waiver for dyslexic son
5/9/07 A request for waiver from District's new foreign language requirement makes sense. What's stopping superintendent from a decision requested months ago?

Fifth specialty school to form in region 5/5/07 To the list of specialty schools in Durango can be added Lutheran High School of Durango, which plans to open a faith-based, college-preparatory high school in August.

New Leadership on the way! DHS Welcome to Seattle area educator, Diane Lashinsky, experienced with small schools model. 9-R hires DHS chief May 5, 2007

Chronology of DHS survey results
9-R board, teachers clash over survey - Durango Herald 4/11/07. Audio of April 10 meeting - First 3 hours

Should public be allowed to read comments from a tax funded survey about 9-R leadership? We say "Yes!" We need better reasons for denying access than have been given to date - especially now that we have read the DHS Committee for Strategic Change report. Keeping problems under wraps is not a good way to solve them. We respect the Committee's hard work; just differ with their approach at this stage to limit information to staff and administration. The 9-R Board has been kept in the dark for years despite inquiries about leadership, climate and how NCLB and CSAP affect teaching and learning. Reading CSC report is eye opening. District should release contents of report along with survey comments.
April 26, 2007 9-R denies open-records request: Administration refuses to release verbatim survey comments

April 21, 2007 Herald files a request for 9-R survey:The Durango Herald filed an open-records request Friday in a bid to force Durango School District 9-R to release a survey of Durango High School parents, teachers and students. The Colorado Open Records Act gives recipients of such requests three working days to respond.
Herald files open records request to release DHS survey, staff, parent, student comments. District has three days to respond. April 21, 2007 Durango Herald
Barter: District won't release full survey text
"Durango School District 9-R will not release the full text of more than 1,500 comments submitted as part of a survey of Durango High School parents and teachers, Superintendent Mary Barter said Wednesday." Durango Herald 4/19/07
9-R board seeks lawyer's advice about making survey public April 18, 2007
9-R to consider releasing survey April 17, 2007

4/22/07: Last week, 9-R School Board members reversed their position that the public should have access to narrative comments from the Durango High School survey. This story began last fall as the board attempted to obtain information unfiltered by upper level administrative staff, particularly their "one employee" Mary Barter, under their Policy Governance system. An independent outside consultant was engaged to gather views of staff, parents and students on 9-R leadership. people who are delighted with our high school's program and people who aren't. As they were about to publish the comments online, a committee at DHS asked that this information be restricted for internal use.
While Durango School Talk contributors have been dismissed by the superintendent as "district critics, naysayers, and the 'usual suspects,'" a report released last week by the DHS Committee for Strategic Changenow confirms that we have been on the same page for years. Durango High School teachers identified issues and concerns identical to those we have brought to the Board from a lack of responsiveness by the central office to low morale resulting from the CSAP burdens. We plan to publish excerpts on our blog. Transparency is the only way to begin a dialogue. We support all 9-R teachers in having a safe, effective structure for teaching and look forward to the imminent transition to new, more transparent and effective 9-R leadership.

By January 2007, 9-R Superintendent Mary Barter had become uncomfortable about the use of survey results Read how "modes" were proposed as a way to positive messages

Iterested in definitions of public records?
Colorado Laws Concerning Public (Open) Records

Want to file your own Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request? Citizens can request public documents under the Freedom of Information Act.

Old issues simmer at 9-R School board hears public's complaints Durango Herald March 21, 2007
9-R to hold public forum
Durango Herald Opinion: Barter and 9-R : Stability needed along with policy changes
Barter wins reprieve, will stay at 9-R
School board members deny illegal actions
9-R board president Matheson resigns
Barter: ‘It appears I may leave'
9-R to create panel to find principal
DHS chief to leave in May

VIDEO: DHS PAAC asked Board to consider resignations of Superintendent and DHS principal.
NEW Parent Perspectives
"Time for a Change" Superintendent Mary Barter Moving On
"My Experiences at a Board Work Session" 9-R Superintendent Barter and Board divided on how to present data from DHS survey
Involved parent responds to Public Information Officer Deborah Uroda's email to District's "Key Communicators"
9-R casts Durango School Talk as villain in 9-R's Letter to Herald. Read it and be the judge. Let us know what you think. Are we off base? How can we improve?. Many visitors to our blog have posted as "anonymous." We encourage people to use their names, but currently accept reasons for some anonymity. Read more.
How things get out of hand : What started with a coach's firing quickly expanded to people talking in private instead of in public. A lack of meaningful contact with the board has stifled exchanges between board and public for years and numerous issues have gone unresolved. No one is happy when protests seem the best way to be heard. But simply claiming an "open door policy" is not enough.
Should public officials' evaluations be public? Kept in the dark, many community members believe at least a summary of superintendent evaluations should be released to assure the public that representatives are doing their job. Durango jurisdictions vary in how closely they guard evaluations of top executives. Durango City Manager Bob Ledger is no stranger to news stories about his peformance, but 9-R differs from city and county. A Durango Herald editorial suggests reasons why public officials need public scrutiny. "The city manager should be properly reviewed, and Durangoans should be told the results." We believe 9-R school superintendent, Mary Barter, is no different.
Cablecasting added scrutiny: A video posted on our blog ends argument that taping isn't possible in a 1916 building.

We welcome comments to our blog, whether you agree or disagree with us. Our goal is to create civil conversations that otherwise wouldn't happen. You can find board members email addresses at http://www.durangoschools.org/board/members.shtml

Key Communicator names are now online. Until the board adopts a more democratic way to hear from the public, "key communicators" could become our representatives. While they should feel flattered to be considered important in the community, using an invitation-only group as its main contact with the public isn't helping the Board stay on top of concerns.

Background on DHS PAAC story: What happened to last spring's highly acclaimed new way the Durango School District would include parents and community in athletics? Have the "wheels fallen off?" Some parents think so, saying that, administrators ignored the very policies they celebrated last spring when a spotlight shone on problems within the athletic program and a group of parents were recruited to smooth things over.
9-R policy addresses parent-coach conflict 5/11/06-
Shane Voss out as DHS head football coach 1/23/07
DHS football debated 1/25/07
Voss' dismissal angers parents 1/30/07
Parents, students confront 9-R board about Voss 1/31/07
School board backs removal of DHS coach Voss 2/1/07
Case closed? Or not? You decide. Email Board Members

What became of the 9-R "Consultant Report" of August 2005? Durango Herald : Consultant: 9-R lacks public's trust "Some district staff members perceive an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, " consultant Robert Tschirki told board members and Superintendent Mary Barter. "It's clear to me that you don't have the trust level that you would all like.” Althought no longer online, the District's public response ignored the trust issues Mr. Tschirki made.. Were those findings been addressed? If so, how? We're still waiting and we believe the 2007 situation has similarities to 2005.

What is Policy Governance? Does 9-R use all the pieces? : "Policy mis-Governance: District 9-R board disconnected from the community" Durango Herald - 3/13/2005
"Choosing Courses: Setting the boundaries of 9-R board" 3/3/2006
Superintendent desires change to board policy - 2/27/2006 District limits participation in committee meetings - 2/8/06
9-R faces $500,000 in cuts '07-'08 Jan 28 2006
9-R parents push for private tutors - Jan 25, 2006
Teacher: 9-R Career education woeful - Jan 11, 2006
Policy Governance: Our primer on John Carver and his governance model for boards that want to make a difference!
NCLB (No Child Left Behind)
Local education advocate Bill Bowlby testified in Denver to support a bill that would allow students to skip CSAPs 2/22/06 - 9-R Board to take a position on this bill. Most education analysts have questions about NCLB - how are test results used? Does it divert scarce resources away from teaching methods that promote “active engagement and critical thinking? [read more on opposition to NCLB] Is 9-R developing a position on NCLB and CSAP? Ask your Board. Read 9-R Superintendent Column "From an educator's perspective, the CSAPs are well worth the time and effort our students invest."

Budget: 9-R faces $500,000 in cuts '07-'08 Layoffs, Draconian program cuts unlikely, district officials say - Jan 28 2006
School board ok's budget Criticism, student achievement focus of meeting - Oct 12 2006
See summary of budget issues for 2005-06. With 9-R enrollment declines causing revenue losses, 9R went unsuccessfully to the voters for a transportation mill levy override in November 2005. Having projected steady growth in students, 9-R attributes the unexpected decline to the fires of 2002 and the dismal local economy.

Welcome to Durango 9-R School Talk!

Our goals are to: