CURRENT ISSUES

(Sorry: Last Updated March 9, 2007!! These pages are rapidly becoming history as 9-R moves forward in selecting its new leadership.)
See our new blog for the most CURRENT ISSUES

The January 2007 firing of DHS Football Coach Shane Voss kicked off a firestorm among parents. Supporters of the new coaching policies organized protests when explanations about the firing and "the program's new direction" were not forthcoming.

We believe community participation is essential to strengthening our public schools. Our goal is to identify and explain issues in a timely fashion so more people will be informed and engaged in a dialogue before decisions are made.

This section of our website was created to track issues and underlying questions the School Board must address in making decisions on our behalf. We invite your input! Send queries or suggested text to "info@durangoschooltalk.org."

Issues and decisions that have been discussed in past few years include:

CAREER EDUCATION remains a huge challenge for District: In January 2006 , Board member Cindi Brevik expressed disappointment to district staff that little apparent progress had been made on the issue in several years.

RAISING GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

On May 24, 2005, the Board voted to raise DHS graduation requirements to align with new admissions requirements for Colorado 's 4 year colleges and universities. While no one opposes higher academic achievement, the question was asked whether raising the bar for all graduates would serve everyone equally? What support strategies would be used to ensure that tougher requirements did not result in higher drop out rates? [Read more]

9-R BUDGET FOR 2005-2006

On June 18, the Board approved a preliminary budget for next fiscal year and much has happened since. Budget priorities should reflect and align with community values. What does our budget say about our values? How could we as citizens help the board make the budget live up to its potential ? Read more]

FOUNDATION SKILLS

In a major study of the impacts of No Child Left Behind's testing culture, in every focus group people's chief concerns about schools were generally about nonacademic issues such as safety, discipline, character, and values. The superintendent has proposed that the Board move “foundation skills” out of the District's “Ends Policies” and into a “Preamble.” Should “ends policies” be strictly “academic?” The Board planned to gather public input before acting on this proposed move. [Read more - soon]

POLICY GOVERNANCE (the Board still has trouble explaining just how they decide which issues they will discuss. 1/31/07 Their use of an invitation only group of "key communicators" currently leaves many viewpoints out. In our opinion, the board still doesn't "get" Policy Governance - and ignores the most essential piece - public linkages.)

What is this mysterious “governance” model that the 9R Board uses and why is it so hard to understand? Has Policy Governance streamlined the board's work? If so, why is it so difficult to schedule time to meet with the public?
[Read about POLICY GOVERNANCE]

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO KEEP UP WITH SCHOOL BOARD ACTIVITIES?

•  Read the 9-R website for meeting agendas, minutes, and special announcements.

•  Attend Board meetings in the District Administration Building at 201 E 12th Street across from the Durango Public Library.

•  Watch Board meetings on DCAT – Channel 22. check the Durango Herald's TV guide pullout section for delayed cablecast schedules. 1/31/07 - WHOOPS - This option no longer exists! Board removed privileges from volunteers and assumed taping but now said it's too hard for District employees to do. August 2006: Board stops videotaping of meetings "The board approved by a 5-2 vote suspending videotaping temporarily to investigate other options, including Web casting. Jeff Schell and Floyd Patterson voted against the motion. Schell said halting videotaping was "a mistake" and "a step backwards." Matheson said that the "temporary" suspension would indeed be temporary. (Now seven months later, what did "temporary" mean?)