WHY CREATE THIS WEBSITE?
We believe school boards exist to represent the community's values, to be the link between us and the education of the next generation. We believe nothing can replace direct dialogue for connecting schools with community support.
We have been frustrated with the lack of opportunities for non-staff members to talk directly with the 9-R School Board. I Instead of the “thoughtful evenings of community dialogue” that Policy Governance boards enjoy, 9-R Board meetings have become lengthy business meetings "dominated by staff presentations."
The Public Participation section of each meeting has become by default our only option for “talking with” the board. Not only are 3 minute speaking slots too brief for raising substantive concerns, these are one way presentations with no chance for dialogue. As a result Board members tend to view those who keep coming back as “special interests” or “squeaky wheels.”
We all bring different perspectives to the table. Citizens and parents can disagree on the new drug dog program or the District's new blended Math curriculum, but most of us agree on the value of dialogue - sitting down together. As citizens, students, parents, teachers, administrators, and board members – it is only by sharing our different perspectives that we can create truly collaborative problem solving strategies and effective partnerships.
To understand more about the reasons for this website read:
March 23, 2005 Durango Telegraph - “Parent Groups Stymied By District : Committees push school board and superintendent for dialogue”
Read our letter to Durango Telegraph asking 9-R to continue opening up dialogue options .
DURANGO HIGH SCHOOL'S PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) at the High School worked with teachers, principal and administrators for over a year on issues arising from the addition of 25 minutes to the student schedule in the Fall of 2003. After five visits by the PAC to regular board meetings, the board finally met face to face on April 26, 2005. The PAC is hopeful that these kinds of discussions will continue and include the teachers, staff and students the PAC's proposals are intended to help.
THE COLLEGE MESA BOUNDARY MOVE
As parents who regularly volunteer on 9R school committees, classrooms and after school programs, College Mesa residents paid attention to the 2004 Boundary Task Force on open enrollment and overcrowding in the District. But on the last day of school in May 2004 they felt blindsided to learn that their children had been redistricted. They hope the District will use more inclusive and open committees the next time boundaries are to be changed.
THE CAREER AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TASK FORCE
The vocational and career “ends policies “ developed by district task forces are based on the belief that all students must be prepared for the "real world." After several years and at least 3 different task forces, many who have served on District committees are concerned that their carefully crafted recommendations will not be fully incorporated and that the students who stand to benefit the most from a thoughtful and well developed career and vocational program will be unnecessarily shortchanged. There are concerns about physical space and the District's commitment to vocational and career education opportunities.