We are citizens who believe the best way to arrive at solutions to local school issues is through meaningful, constructive, and responsive dialogue between all parties involved: school board members, administrators, teachers, parents and the wider community of support.
We are an entirely volunteer support group of parents, community members and organizations. In our first six months, over 500 different individuals have paid visits to this site, despite our having no paid staff to make regular updates.
We want our school board to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy independence from the administration it supervises. We want board members to be diligent on our behalf in seeking a range of opinions on substantive issues that involve Ends Policies, rather than simply deferring to staff opinion. We value positive relationships and appreciate the benefits of "teamwork," but we also believe the public must be part of that "team." Policy Governance itself demands frequent check-ins with the "owners" of the system. We think that adopting a more straightforward, less defensive communications strategy will go a long way toward restoring levels of trust.
We welcome
ideas from all corners for
improving the way our community talks about education and ideas. We hope teachers, students and parents will join us in creating new opportunities to talk together – by participating in online forums,
posting comments on this website, and proposing topics for brown bag
lunches or future dialogues. From the role of testing and what accountability should look like, to the desirablity of magnet and charter schools, our differences will only stimulate new thinking and a winnowing of ideas.
If you, or an organization you represent, would like to be listed with
others who endorse our online dialogue website,
please contact us at: info@durangoschooltalk.org
The names listed above represent some of the individuals and organizations who endorse the concepts and encourage the goals of this website.