The Durango School District 9-R administration held a State of the District meeting to present data on academic performance, school funding, and future projects. The event, led by Superintendent Karen Cheser, aimed to provide context for recent test scores and address public concerns about the district's direction.
During the meeting at the IMPACT Career Innovation Center, officials detailed student achievement metrics, outlined significant curriculum changes made over the past four years, and discussed major capital projects, including new staff housing and a future elementary school.
Key Takeaways
- The district presented data on CMAS test scores, noting changes in test difficulty since 2015.
- Superintendent Karen Cheser highlighted curriculum adjustments aimed at ensuring consistent, high-quality instruction.
- Future projects include a new elementary school by 2028 and a recently purchased 35-unit building for staff housing.
- Officials addressed the issue of chronic student absenteeism, defining it as missing 10% or more of school days.
- The meeting was organized in response to what the district described as online "misinformation" about school performance.
Academic Performance and Testing Data
A significant portion of the presentation focused on academic data, particularly results from the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) tests. Superintendent Karen Cheser explained that the CMAS assessments have become more rigorous since 2015, making direct comparisons to older results challenging.
To provide attendees with a better understanding of the tests, district officials distributed blank CMAS test packets for review. Cheser emphasized the district's active approach to improving student outcomes.
“I wanted to make sure everybody understood that we're not just sitting passively by, just seeing what the kids’ scores are, and hopefully they'll succeed,” Cheser stated. “Over the last four years, we’ve made some huge, huge adjustments.”
Cheser also pointed out a notable achievement, stating that Durango School District was the only rural district to be ranked among Colorado’s top 11 for testing performance this year. This data point was presented to counter narratives of underperformance.
Curriculum and Instructional Changes
The superintendent detailed a shift in educational strategy within the district. In previous years, a focus on student autonomy sometimes created inconsistencies in curriculum delivery. According to Cheser, this approach presented barriers to ensuring every student received access to “a guaranteed, vital curriculum.”
In response, the district has implemented large-scale changes over the past few years. These adjustments are designed to establish stronger accountability and provide more robust intervention programs for students who need additional support.
Addressing Public Perception
Superintendent Cheser told The Durango Herald that a primary goal of the event was to counter online discussions labeling the district's schools as “failing.” She stressed that the data shows positive growth and that teachers are implementing strong educational programs. “It’s harmful when people just say, ‘failing schools’ and they discount everything, or don’t look at all the numbers,” she said.
District Funding and Major Projects
The meeting also covered the district's financial situation and long-term infrastructure plans. Cheser acknowledged funding challenges that have led to budget cuts across all departments and schools.
Despite these constraints, the district is moving forward with several key initiatives. These projects are aimed at supporting staff and modernizing facilities to accommodate community growth.
Key District Initiatives
- Staff Housing: The district recently purchased a 35-unit apartment building at Lightner Creek Village to provide affordable housing options for its employees.
- New Elementary School: Plans are underway to replace Florida Mesa Elementary with a new school, unofficially named Three Springs Elementary, with a target completion date of 2028.
- Workforce Development Center: The district is in discussions with the Ignacio and Bayfield school districts to potentially convert the old Florida Mesa Elementary building into a shared workforce development center, pending board approvals.
Community Engagement and Public Questions
Approximately 30 community members attended the event. Following the main presentation by Cheser and Board President Kristin Smith, the floor was opened for a question-and-answer session. The district had encouraged attendees to ask “the hard questions.”
During this segment, only two questions were posed by the audience. One concerned the district's strategy for managing chronic student absenteeism, while the other related to funding for a future construction project.
Response to Chronic Absenteeism
The question about student attendance was raised by Mary Kay Stewart, a community member and former substitute teacher. “I did want them to address the absenteeism, because all of these wonderful things (the district is) doing ... if the students aren’t there, the students can’t take advantage of them,” she said.
Vanessa Giddings, the district's Executive Director of Student Support Services, responded to the query. She clarified that chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school days in a single year. Giddings described the intervention plans the district has in place for students who meet this threshold to help them improve their attendance.
After the formal Q&A, attendees had the opportunity to speak directly with principals, teachers, and other staff members. Informational posters detailing the successes, challenges, and future goals for each of the district's 11 schools were also on display.