Superintendent concerned about 9-R budget as 44 apply for top position

A few years ago board members were warned it would be very difficult to find superintendent candidates willing to come to Durango. At the time, that sounded a bit ludicrous given the amenities of our beautiful setting and superb community.

Now with 44 applications, the search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea must winnow the list to a reasonable 5 or 6 for board members to interview in January.

The firm recently presented a summary of community concerns and opinions they heard during visits to our community. It is useful reading, both as an affirmation of our strengths and as confirmation that changes are in order - more support for teachers, improved communications with public, and a better long range plan.

We wish the search team and board members well and look forward to meeting candidates next month.

Questions candidates could face might include their response to the superintendent's assessment of pending financial troubles. In addition to fears of falling enrollment, Barter recently referred to Durango Academy and the High School's reorganization as "potential wild cards."

We live in interesting times. With a positive attitude, an energetic candidate could find this an opportune moment to tap into this community's reservoirs of creativity and talent.

Time now to comment on your dream superintendent!

Who would you like to see at the helm of Durango's schools?

Do you have a favorite person in mind or can you describe the qualities you most want in a leader? It could be years before we have this chance again.

9-R District Board members are currently engaged in the search for a new leader.

The Herald recently noted sparse attendance at the community open houses, but it's not too late to put in a word. Superintendent meeting draws 3 "Officials say they want public input about hiring a new superintendent... but members of the public did not clamor to do so." In response, several letters have appeared suggesting that "because 9-R never listens" it wasn't worth attending. Not true. We believe the new board not only listens, it is eager to move our district forward in positive, innovative ways. But they need to hear from us.

If you prefer to bypass the 9-R Information Office, comments can be sent directly to the search team c/o the website of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates. The firm is scheduled to present a summary of our community comments at the board's Nov. 27 meeting. Make sure yours get counted.

While an initial deadline has passed, we can't imagine the search team excluding honest input that comes in soon. Request the Leadership Profile Form ... or simply share your views on 9-R's strengths and weaknesses, but mostly tell them what qualities and criteria you want the board to use in evaluating the candidates.

For more info
Oct. 2, Herald article:
Durango 9-R Jumps Into Search

Congratulations Animas High Committee

"State board OKs Animas High charter"
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2007 Durango Herald

After more than a year of planning, a five member board of community minded parents has gained the approval of the State's Charter Institute to move forward with plans to open a new, small high school for Durango area students next August.

Much more work now lies ahead to make the dream a reality. Interested families and students can contact organizers through the Animas High School website.

Read more the educational philosophy and research behind this proposal.

Congratulations and thanks to the committee for their hard work in creating this opportunity for Durango families.

Supporting the new Animas High Charter proposal

Back in 2002, with an $84.5 million bond for school construction, many of us tried to get a "small schools" conversation started - all the research showed small schools outperforming the large comprehensive model of two thousand students.

When the superintendent told the school board that a "second high school" would cost an extra million dollars a year right off the bat, members decided not to "go there" and a public conversation about school models never happened, except in the Letters to the Editor pages. The public information campaign to get out the vote then assured voters that "small schools research didn't apply in communities like ours."

Fast forward five years -- community organizers today have created a very comprehensive proposal for a "small high school" (450 students) and will be engaged in the next few weeks in presenting their model to the Colorado Charter School Institute.

Browse the website of Animas High School. Read the Durango Herald's recent excellent editorial. Take a look at the educational philosophy and research behind this proposal and think about our options.

Those of us who believe in choices, flexibility, and innovation are excited by the positive energy being directed toward such a wonderful project. Read about their model - the original High Tech High in San Diego.

“Building strong school communities means fighting the social trend of bigger everything.”
--Ron Berger, An Ethic of Excellence

AND if you wish to show support, the best way is to attend a public forum sponsored by the Colorado Charter Institute Monday 9/24/07 at 6:30 to the Durango Rec Center. They need to hear what parents, students and community members think about the need for educational choices for our Durango students.

NOTE: The CCI forum had standing room only. See Herald 9/25/07 Parents turn out in force to support Animas High

Saturday is "School Board Education Day"

Great news!

If you've ever thought about serving on one of our local school boards, now is the time to find out what's involved and the League of Women Voters is going to make this easy for you!

You are invited to a working breakfast educational session this Sat. a.m, 8/11/07, from 8:30 to noon at Mercy Medical Center, Conference Room A, in their Three Springs location at Grandview off Highway 160. Call Pam Patton at 884-2206 for more information.

The current presidents of all three local school boards wrote a complete story with deadline dates and locations for filing nomination petitions in Sunday's Herald.(Take Your Seat: Durango Herald Aug. 5, 2007)

With 11 seats open in November in Durango, Ignacio and Bayfield, and many new arrivals in the 9-R system, we look forward to the exciting possibilities that may unfold this fall.

“Survey Results Criticize, Praise” Durango Herald, Sunday, July 8, 2007

Kudos to the Durango Herald and the unidentified “third party” who provided the newspaper with a copy of 9-R’s “secret” survey in July. We were not alone in hoping for improvements in the high school culture and the 9-R work environment.

Tackling the 64 pages of single spaced comments by teachers, staff, students and parents now might lead to a sea change in culture and communications -- between teachers, parents, the public and District staff and students – but only if all parties are included in an honest community dialogue.

While District administrators insist this survey will stifle “frank and honest discussion,” we believe the opposite - coming clean and facing real concerns head-on is 9-R’s best path out of its recent quagmire. Especially with new personnel this fall, let's hope the District' sheds its mantra of "Don't listen to naysayers and critics; let's move on!"

In refusing two open records requests (of 4/21 and 5/1/07), Supt. Barter’s reluctance to allow the public to read any “raw data” now looks increasingly self-serving. She insisted that “personally identifiable information” would be harmful to those who made comments - but reading comments printed in Sunday's Herald suggests that the harm would be to the superintendent herself, and at least one other high level administrator, definitely not the teachers she has claimed to be protecting.

According to the Herald, negative comments about 9-R Central Administration were made by some 25 staff members and positive comments by 13.

Some of the 2006-07 staff comments resonate with a report made two years ago by outside consultant Robert Tschirki. 2005 Herald story.

"9-R embodies the philosophy of: when we want your opinion, we’ll give it to you. Anyone who speaks out against any idea forwarded by administration is harassed, bullied and intimidated into submission.”

“Teachers feel there will be retribution if they get out of line."

With over 1500 comments on everything from school climate and size, drug and alcohol use, student safety, the open campus at lunchtime to the high school's dress code, survey results could form the basis of a productive community conversation -- but that cannot happen if 9-R continues to deny their relevance.

A majority of board members have indicated that the comments themselves are more useful than the quantitative synthesis substituted in deference to teachers who feared that a public reading would make their lives more difficult.

This is a community that supports its teachers. Barter's claim that it would be harmful to allow the public to read 9-R survey results has an increasingly hollow ring. To ignore them because they aren't "scientifically sound" doesn't make good sense. To find out more does.

9-R Board public forum a success!

It may have been only 15 parents and citizens who showed up last week, but the information and ideas flowed freely. Individuals who arrived with their individual concerns, left with new acquaintances and a sense of who are board members are, what they care about.

Congratulations to this "new" board for encouraging the public to help prioritize some opportunities and actions that will make our schools even better.

This is what Policy Governance requires - "linking" with the "owners of the system."

What a difference in mood and tone from the adversarial settings that have been standard fare for parents in the past.

And stay tuned for details of discussion items moving to the center of a public conversation. Better yet, share your own concerns here for comment. But next time you read of a 9-R Board open forum, make arrangements to attend; it will be worth your while and we will all benefit.

Example: A homeschooling parent whose son will enter DHS this fall raised a concern about dropping enrollment in arts and theater classes that may be inadvertently be caused by new graduation requirements. The groups urged further exploration of graduation requirements and a commitment to flexibility - and a commitment to individualized plans for all students. This is a community that thinks out of the box and wants every child to have an appropriate educational path.

Progress!

Read story in Herald about May 15, 2007 forum.

Supreme Court levels legal playing field for parents

Justices Rule on Education Lawsuits

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: May 21, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Parents need not hire a lawyer to sue public school districts over their children's special education needs, the Supreme Court ruled Monday.

The decision came in the case of an autistic boy from Ohio, whose parents argued they were effectively denied access to the courts because they could not afford a lawyer.

Federal law gives every child the right to a free appropriate public education, which in the case of special needs children sometimes means enrollment in a private facility.

But most federal courts had concluded that parents who are not lawyers and who want to challenge decisions have to hire an attorney to represent them.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the court, said parents have legal rights under the Individuals With Disabilities in Education Act, the main federal special education law.

''They are, as a result, entitled to prosecute IDEA claims on their own behalf,'' Kennedy said.

The court sided with Jeff and Sandee Winkelman and their son, Jacob, in their fight against the Parma, Ohio school district.

The Winkelmans can't afford a lawyer or the cost of private schooling for Jacob. Neither parent is a lawyer.

The parents objected to the Parma schools' plan to educate Jacob at a public school. They wanted the district to pay for his $56,000 yearly enrollment in a private school that specializes in educating autistic children.

The Winkelmans have spent about $30,000 in legal fees since first contesting Jacob's treatment in 2003. Jeff Winkelman has taken a second job while his wife has researched previous court rulings and written her own filings.

Sandee Winkelman said she might press the case on behalf of her 9-year-old son with one of several attorneys who have offered to represent the family for free. If that doesn't work out, she said, the family would proceed without an attorney.

''I would prefer to give Jacob the best chance with an attorney. That's the best-case scenario,'' she said after the ruling was announced. ''I'm very pleased. It restored a lot of faith I have in the system.''

It is unclear how many parents forgo lawsuits because they can't afford them, although advocates for disabled children said in court papers that most parents of disabled children lack the means to hire a lawyer.

Parents unhappy with a district's plan can appeal the decision through an administrative process. If they remain dissatisfied, they can file a civil lawsuit on their child's behalf, federal courts have said. At that point, however, most courts have said the parents must hire a lawyer.

Whether Jacob should have private schooling at public expense was not before the Supreme Court, only his parents' right to go into federal court without a lawyer.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled in the school district's favor. Monday's ruling overturned that decision.

The case number is Winkelman v. Parma City School District, 05-983.

What's on the big list so far?

The 9-R Board has compiled a list of concerns which can be accessed here. We hope others are added. Here are a few that we have heard and believe must be addressed if real change is to occur.

Communication with the public
If Policy Governance continues, commit to using the whole model. Continue to build in opportunities for unfiltered information exchange between you and the public.

District culture Make sure that teachers, parents, students and community members are being treated respectfully. Connect the dots. Look carefully at all the new school choices popping up in our community. Are things as rosy as 9-R's press releases suggest? We repeat: find ways to listen to parents, students, teachers and community.

Dyslexia and other special education programs
What is behind the attitude from top administration that has produced so much angst? The exciting fields of brain research have revolutionized approaches to learning disabilities. Have 9-R teachers been offered the professional development to keep current? Why so much denial? How has 9-R responded to concerned parents?

9-R and dyslexia: Parents’ concerns deserve public discussion
9-R Touts ability to help dyslexic
Mother requests waiver for foreign language
Liberty School to open in September: private school to tackle dyslexia

Go back to "culture" above and ask: are top officials treating everyone with respect?

Denial and defensive posture of Administration
Is "never having to say you're sorry" the most helpful strategy for dealing with public and staff? Track legal expenses for patterns behind lawsuits against 9-R.

9-R's $35 million budget -big picture thinking?
Make public participation in 9-R budget matters a priority. This community is deeply interested in choices made for academic programs. There are many models for including public in prioritizing expenditures.

Opening lines of communication

Congratulations to the 9-R School Board for making good on its promise for change!

Recent plans for quarterly public forums move the board a step in the right direction.

Board members are inviting the community to show up Tuesday at 5 p.m. to look over a large list of concerns they plan to address this coming year. Their list is based on what was said at an "open forum" in March, along with the now infamous "DHS Survey" comments. Before they begin to prioritize the list for next fall, they want to make sure it is as complete as possible. This is your chance. If you can't come, send an email or a friend to speak in your place.

If you come: Think about what you want to happen for our children. Bring positive ideas along with concerns. Tuesday's format is for small group settings, so you need not fear a microphone or stage fright. Plus: you will have the ear of at least one board member and a chance to connect with others interested enough to come out for our public school system.

Tuesday's forum is similar to models that citizens and individual board members have asked for since 2003. We hope it is successful. With little advance notice the turnout may be light, but today's Durango Herald editorial should help with recruiting.

"What is needed is openness..."

On March 16, the Durango Herald editorialized:

"...the board must look to how it and the district got to where they are. What is needed is openness and real public involvement..."

One month into the new order, we seem to be crashing into another iceberg. Underneath the surface is a narrative of 1500 comments we will never see, made by our neighbors - DHS students, parents, and teachers - discussing leadership at the high school, the district office and the school board level.

The superintendent, 9-R legal counsel and a committee of teachers have persuaded the board that some 70 pages of narrative comments should never reach the public. (read)

Real public involvement means we see ourselves as partners, working on the same page. That will never happen as long as we're viewed as the enemy. Someone or something keeps getting between us and mucking up the communications loop.

A strategic plan was approved a year ago that will take DHS from "Great to Greater." We know there are great things going on with faculty and students in many departments. We are proud of them, but we know there are also problems. Now it sounds like there may be "big problems." The official word seems to be "Trust us." Can we?

Public relationships

The Durango Herald reported Sunday that the 9-R School Board will "meet with the public Tuesday night as a first step toward fulfilling the board's promise to increase its leadership role in the community."

On 3/16 the Herald wrote a thoughtful opinion piece called "Barter and 9-R"

"...the board must look to how it and the district got to where they are. What is needed is openness and real public involvement, which to its credit the board seems to recognize. Tuesday it said, "The board anticipates significantly increased interaction among the board and building staffs, the central office and the public."

Will Board interactions look and feel different? Will new options for talking replace the adversarial public hearing format? Will recent and/or long standing concerns currently labelled "case closed" be revisited? Being told an issue "has been resolved" - when, in fact, it persists in important concrete ways that would benefit from open discussion - has been a big part of how we got to where we are. And 9-R's interpretations of Policy Governance haven't helped.

This is a board with a lot on its plate. No doubt they will appreciate positive and strong support for this big transition. Restoring trust should be an overarching theme as they move forward. And a first step will be to see a change in the way public input is valued. Try to make their meeting tomorrow at 5 p.m. and see what they have in mind.

Cautious optimism: too soon to celebrate?

What is the best way for our community to move forward given 9-R's
recent trials?

Why not celebrate the promise and the hope for big change in Durango schools' public-board-district relations? If the board follows through with its statement of Tuesday night, everyone gets something. The district gets to keep the experience of Mary Barter and the public gets what it has wanted for so long: a responsive school board that puts the public back in public education -- with a pledge to develop a process that ensures community concerns will not be buried or spun, but acknowledged and addressed.

These were the reasons why Durango School Talk was created. Meaningful public participation and increased accountability.

Mistrust may linger, but the board went through a grueling process to reach this decision. We stand behind them and support them 100% as they take their first steps into a new era of collaboration, accountability and outreach.

And, everyone gets what they asked for, while saving taxpayers $218,000.

Mary Barter to complete her contract

A stunning decision was delivered tonight by 9-R Board President Floyd Patterson. Superintendent Mary Barter will finish her contract, not wrapping up her stay with Durango Schools until June of 2008. This came after a week of turmoil, in which former president Mike Matheson resigned in protest, accusing his former colleagues of collusion in a plot to fire the superintendent.

Mr. Patterson assured those in the large audience that big changes will be put in place. He stated that Board members understand that serious problems have been allowed to develop, particularly in the District's approach to communications and community relationships. A full review of Policy Governance will be underway for the Board. Many in the crowd said that that can not come too soon.

A very civil evening followed the announcement as the board encouraged citizens to stay involved. There may never have been a more important time for this community to come together for its children, and board members pledged their dedication to developing new procedures for reaching out to the public.

Stay tuned.

9-R Climate Survey - Just the Facts, Ma'am!

Observing the February 9R Board Worksession

--- by Walter Venable>

As a concerned parent, I attended the public portion of the school board worksession of February 12th. I was very interested to observe the discussion of the results of a recent climate survey of DHS students, teachers, staff, and parents that rated various aspects of 9R performance. The board members were brainstorming how to publicly present the survey results. Mary Barter was present at the meeting, and she proposed an obscure method of presenting the survey results that was extremely misleading and in fact threw away most of the data collected, especially negative viewpoints.

The full article (click here to read it now) presents my observations in detail. It describes in plain language exactly how Mary Barter proposed to spin the survey data, and in fact has used the same techniques to misrepresent past information to the public. It also shows how the same data could be presented clearly and accurately without throwing any of it away. I hope you will read the article and post your own viewpoints here on the blog. I would be very interested to read your feedback and your opinions.

Anonymity

The purpose of the blog is to get all the ideas and concerns on the table, out in the open, for discussion and dialogue. We understand legitimate fears of retaliation can exist, particularly under circumstances that prompted the creation of this blog. However, your credibility and ours depend on genuinely open and honest exchanges. When we make comments, we use our full names and encourage others to do so and to follow some basic guidelines for civil discourse.

For thoughtful commentary: The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) believes that bloggers have the right to stay anonymous, citing the need for privacy and protection from workplace retaliation. "We're continuing our battle to protect and preserve your constitutional right to anonymous speech online, including providing a legal guide to help you with strategies for keeping your identity private when you blog. See How to Blog Safely (About Work or Anything Else)."

NOTE: Sorry if anyone had difficulty posting today. A "Moderate Comments" function was accidently switched on while exploring ways to ensure the civility level continues. So far so good; and please try again if you wished to leave a comment!

After stressful days, board to meet Monday 5 pm

On Wednesday, March 7th, Mike Matheson resigned from Durango's 9-R School Board after formally accusing five of his colleagues of illegal actions.

9-R board president Matheson resigns
Members deny allegations of illegal meetings

According to Durango Herald, "Superintendent Mary Barter's job hung in the balance Wednesday"
Barter: ‘It appears I may leave’


Today, the Durango Herald published board member responses.
School Board members deny illegal actions

Who's the bully here?

You know that awful feeling you get when you see an angry parent in the grocery check-out line punishing a child far too severely? Your worry is "If that's what he'll do in public, what might he do in private?" This latest blast to the Durango Herald from 9-R makes one wonder what the standards now are for acceptable behaviors at 9-R. "Toxic" is a term we've heard used more than once in connection with 9-R working conditions.

Is the following what 9-R would call "a biased interpretation" of a Durango Herald story?

Durango Herald 8/20/2005 "Some district staff members perceive an atmosphere of fear and intimidation," consultant Robert Tschirki told board members and Superintendent Mary Barter.

Risking further rebukes from 12th Street, we ask once again - What follow up strategies were put in place in response to the Tschirki Report?

We're sticking with our motto: Citizens for transparent and open government.

We believe citizens not only have a right to create the space to hear each other, it is their responsibility. Sorry, 9-R, we will not be bullied.

Durango High School Principal Resigns

Greg Spradling, principal of Durango High School, announced today that he will leave his position in June. Spradling originally came to 9-R in 2001.
intending to stay only five years. Members of the DHS PAAC issued a statement saying "His resignation gives the student population and parents at Durango High School the opportunity to move forward in a new direction. Mr. Greg Spradling has done some good things for the high school and we wish him well in his new endeavors."

The DHS Parent Athletic Advisory Committee has been in the news recently concerning 9-R Administration snafus regarding failures to follow agreed upon policies. See Durango School Talk for a history of stories relating to the PAAC controversy.

Meanwhile, the 9-R Board met tonight in Executive Session for the superintendent's mid-year evaluation. Given recent protests, many community members hope Barter's midyear evaluation will be made public. Read a Durango Herald editorial on why public officials should be reviewed, and why the results should be made public.

Public Misinformation Office?

On Friday District 9-R's Public Information Officer (PIO) emailed a lengthy document (2127 words) to her undisclosed list of 9-R Key Communicators. In it she attempts to refute concerns raised at the last key communicators meeting, plus some "straw men" to confuse the casual reader.

Is this our board speaking or its sole employee? Whichever, the PIO's email further fuels some fires that have smoldered for years.

Consider the different ways a school district can communicate with the public.

On the one hand, a district can channel its resources in an attempt to pacify, mollify, or even confuse a public that it hopes will go away. On the other, some districts provide an honest accounting about persistent issues with the goal of increasing awareness and understanding, and strengthening the public’s ability to participate effectively as a full partner in addressing the challenges all public schools face.

Which is the pattern of the 9-R School District?

Some of us are up to our eyeballs in the first approach. We live in an engaged community looking for a different kind of accountability and we’re not going away, no matter how many emails like Friday’s that get forwarded to us.

This community looks to its elected representatives for accountability. Durango 9-R is a public school district, not a corporate machine. In terms of public school governance – is 9-R's governance the governance we want?

Consider contacting your school board members to share your perspective. I think they are listening.

NOTE: "The Straw Man fallacy is committed when a person simply ignores a person's actual position and substitutes a distorted, exaggerated or misrepresented version of that position."

NOTE: The names and phone numbers of the Key Communicators have just gone online! If you know any of them, perhaps they would carry your concern to the board!

Honesty has always been the best policy

Thanks to everyone writing with ideas for "guest editorials." Over the weekend we’ll put some together for the website and the blog. The concern most often expressed is whether 9-R’s information is trustworthy. Stretching the truth is a dangerous default public relations strategy and a very bad habit for public servants.

On Tuesday night (2/20), a key communicator suggested that the recent picketing demonstrations would never have happened if communications with the public were better and asked what 9-R is doing to address people’s perceptions.

The 9-R response just missed the point. The Board President suggested key communicators might want a meeting where they could learn about 9-R’s many formats (electronic and paper) for dispensing information. It's not about the amount of information the public receives; it’s about how accurate the “information” is. We are a community small enough that we frequently talk to each other about our schools and children. And as for rewriting the past, not a good idea. We have excellent memories (and Internet access to the Herald’s archives.)

As children we are taught never to lie because if we do, people will stop believing us. Trust in the public realm is just as easily destroyed and as difficult to rebuild. With what’s going on now, my advice is to immediately start being meticulously honest.

Crowd control - the latest challenge

If you're at the Durango Public Library and wonder what those parents carrying protest signs across the street are all about, read on. (Sorry this is so long, but it's shorter than searching the Herald.)

Mary Barter was recently quoted as saying she prefers protests to apathy. I find that interesting because I've never met an apathetic parent. The parents I know best much prefer to be engaged with each other on public work.

Those who've been protesting recently, like others in the past few years, assure me that carrying signs in order to have their concerns heard is not their idea of fun, nor of justice. People want to be heard. When they are upset, they don't want to be shut out or shut down; they believe their opinions have merit. What they all really want is for our high school to be an exciting and positive place for every student. And they're not sure DHS is as good as it could be.

It hasn't helped to be turned away recently from the board room because of new "fire safety" rulings, to be greeted with the sight of police officers, or to overhear a broadcast journalist being told that audio taping public board meetings isn't permitted. And now, with the School Board President reporting that he or someone has received threats, those police officers may be here for the long haul.

DurangoSchoolTalk formed a few years ago because people were upset and felt nothing was being done to correct a pattern of denying problems and shutting out the public when real concerns were raised. Concerns from years past persist today and explain the protests outside the 9-R Building; until major changes are made, I predict the protests will continue in one form or another. People want resolution, not just "moving on."

Issues that have lingered, never fully resolved, include:

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.”

Lockdown and Drug Dog Search
DHS's May 6th 2005 “Code Blue Lockdown” left teachers and students at DHS frightened and angry but 9-R administrators took their time showing concern. "All the students were scared for their lives. They feared a shooting was under way, especially with the recent shooting downtown," he said, referring to the April 14 shooting of Lori "Star" Sutherland. "They never told us what was happening." While many parents and students spent the week of May 8th discussing what constitutes real security and safety, the District offered no opportunity to gather as a community to discuss feelings and concerns. The superintendent only revealed that there would not be another lockdown until they resume next fall.

“Group takes up cause of teacher – coalition talks of defense fund for Lynch” The 9-R Watchdog Coalition is ready to sink its teeth into what it calls an ineffective school board and schools superintendent. The group grew out of the failure to renew the contract of popular Durango High School shop teacher Padraig Lynch. Now that the hackles are up, it may go for the jugular and Lynch may take legal action to restore his good name.
"Former DHS teacher raised safety issues"
In the wake of the 9-R board's May 10 decision not to renew Lynch's contract, his supporters are charging that the teacher's whistle-blowing led to his dismissal."He wasn't a conformist or the style of person the administration wanted in there," said Doug Zalesky, whose son, Sam, took Lynch's welding class. Zalesky and his wife, Leesa, helped found the District 9-R Watchdog Coalition that has demanded Lynch's reinstatement. "He was a vocal person whose responsibilities over safety of students and continued vocal outcries were met with deaf ears and they finally got tired of it," he said. "Something is wrong," he wrote in an e-mail to the principal dated Oct. 19, 2004. "I test students on parts of circuits and one of the test questions is: What device senses short circuits and stops electrical flow. … I can't with good conscience have the students continually reset the (circuit breakers) to operate equipment. One of them is going to get electrocuted."

Zalesky, who is also chief of the Fort Lewis-Mesa Fire Department, said he was deeply troubled after visiting the welding shop last year.

"I'm not trained as an inspector, but from a fire chief's perspective, my professional opinion was it was an unsafe environment," he said. "There was a hazardous gas situation and it was a dangerous electrical situation. When the breakers trip that often, it's an improper wiring system."

Teacher: 9-R Career education woeful - Jan 11, 2006 Durango High School's career-education curriculum is woefully inadequate, educators told the Durango School District 9-R board Tuesday.
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.

Escalante parents, teachers unhappy with recommendation Escalante parents, teachers unhappy with recommendation By Dominic Weilminster Herald Staff Writer A crowd of around 75, including a majority of Escalante Middle School's teachers, gathered in front of the Durango School District 9-R School Board on Tuesday to voice disapproval of the district administration's recommendation for a replacement to retiring Escalante Principal Gene Giddings.

“Parent Groups Stymied By District : Committees push school board and superintendent for dialogue” The length of the school day is a current subject of debate between the Durango High School Parent Advisory Committee, which feels the day is too long for staff and students, and the 9-R Board of Education. However, the committee says it has reached an impasse with 9-R Superintendent Mary Barter and is frustrated at efforts to spark a dialogue on the issue


9-R parents push for private tutors - Jan 25, 2006 Durango parents pleaded with the school board Tuesday to let private tutors into public schools. The impasse has left parents frustrated. One woman, Glenna Woody, said in an interview that she is considering sending her only child, a 13-year-old dyslexic son, to a private school in New York that specializes in teaching dyslexic boys. Another, Anne Spence, told of children holding car washes to pay for their private tutors. A third, Charmin Flowers, recounted emptying her son's college fund to pay his tutor.


Board stops videotaping of meetings
August 17, 2006 The Durango School District 9-R board of directors has voted (5-2) to temporarily suspend the videotaping and broadcasting of its meetings.
Diane Doney, 9-R director of business services, said broadcasting the board meetings has led to "people who come here and grandstand for the camera. ... It doesn't always present the district in the best light."

Career education hopes dashed, charges of unsafe conditions at the high school and improprieties with staff hiring and firing procedures, consultant reports that aren't followed up, whistleblowers who aren't invited back, a district unequipped to teach dyslexic children...but unwilling for parents to use school premises for tutoring, and then six months ago, a "temporary" videotaping ban - that now seems to be coming permanent. Videotapes of 9-R Board meetings no longer appear on DCAT -- nor on library shelves as City Council meetings are. At last Tuesday's meeting, Finance Director Diane Doney seemed to tell the board president that their plans to webcast meetings live will not be happening. We hope the board asks why, because anything that keeps people out isn't helping.

Monitoring Mary Barter - Policy Governance

That is the school board's job. Under Policy Governance, all they really do is monitor how well the superintendent carries out policies on our behalf.

Tuesday was set up for evaluating the superintendent's performance on "EL-10" - an Executive Limitation requiring her not to fail to see that board members have the information they need to "be adequately informed."

It was nice to have the Herald present. See
9-R board questions early-release plan

The superintendent thinks a "reasonable interpretation" gives her a pass on this, despite board member concerns that teachers (parents and students) were not appropriately and adequately involved in the District's new early release plan. The board president allowed an additional policy to be read into the record by a parent whose ongoing concerns have made her well versed in 9-R's intricacies. That policy clearly establishs the need for the superintendent to involve "affected parties." But Barter played the well worn and ultimate "Policy Governance" card: maybe none of this is really "board business" at all. The board was working hard for us (especially for our teachers) trying to do its job: monitor the superintendent's performance. It is their responsibility to find out how well she followed District policies in involving those affected by this decision. Is there real support from teachers for Friday afternoon? Early release is a way to get them some planning time. What were teachers' thoughts about Wednesdays? Friday afternoons?

Board members decided to continue their discussion of this until next time. If you have ideas about the Friday early release discussions, let us know in the comments.

Another "regular board meeting"

At tonight's 9-R Board meeting, the protest signs were gone, but the presence of police officers is casting a new aura over the room. We're told they've been hired because of threats that have been received. Although these men in blue are quite friendly, business doesn't feel "as usual" with them in the corner of your eye.

During public participation, the board seemed to listen more attentively. Many members mentioned the lack of public inclusion later in the meeting. They got to hear thoughtful testimony about the current public controversy. DHS parent Rick O'Block presented a big picture summary of 9-R missteps and lost opportunities over a period of years. Carefully noting that he would be making no references either about the PAAC or "Shane Voss firing," he asked board members to take the time to respond appropriately to issues some of us in the room have experienced directly. From lawsuits to the still unfinished business of the "Tschirki Report." It was an eloquent plea for board members to try to imagine themselves in our shoes. We will see how this plays out, when and if they respond in March, as he requested.

Protests continue; Board grapples with survey results

There was another protest outside the district administration building last night, with about 32 parents, students and community members holding signs that this week read “Stop the Lies and Intimidations” and “Fire Mary Barter.”

A few minutes after 5:00 p.m. about 16 people crowded into the conference room to observe board discussing results of the recent "climate survey" conducted with DHS teachers, staff, students, and parents. The discussion grew heated over one point in particular: while a majority of the board seem committed to releasing the complete findings to the public, Mike Matheson and Mark Seiter both suggested that releasing a narrative of written comments of teachers, staff and students could be counterproductive.

Bruce Anderson, Cindi Brevik, Floyd Patterson, Jeff Schell and Melissa Youseff generally agreed that the varied comments contained in the survey should be released to the public pretty much as they were recorded. Matheson and Seiter expressed strong concerns about the value of giving the public access to the complete report. Board members reached a compromise: comments from the survey will be included, with specific personnel names and vulgar language removed. Board and Superintendent at different ends of spectrum on presentation of information.(Read opinion by Walt Venable)

With a decision reached, the board went into closed executive session, and everyone except board members and superintendent had to leave. The topic for discussion: Barter’s midyear performance evaluation. Many protesters leaving the meeting voiced the opinion that it is inappropriate for Barter to stay in the room for the discussion of her performance because her presence could preclude board members from speaking candidly about misgivings they may have about her performance.

Board anticipates a delay of two weeks for climate survey to be formatted for viewing, but members agreed it will be on 9-R website in its entirety (minus names and profane language.) Durangoschooltalk will let you know when it becomes available.
Tonight, the Board holds its regular meeting at 5:00 p.m.

Leadership Crisis at 9-R - WATCH VIDEO

Parents protested actions of the 9-R adminstration at a recent school board meeting.



The DHS Parent Athletic Advisory Committee has called for the 9-R Board to consider requesting the resignation of the high school principal and the district superintendent, Mary F. Barter. The PAAC claims that district adminstrators have failed to comply with the personnel policies adopted last spring.

Rick O'Block, a DHS parent and PAAC member, told the board that "there are now grave issues with all the programs and the relationships within the high school and the district that... board members will need to address."

Mike Nargi, also of the DHS PAAC, after speaking of "obvious problems at the high school" said "it's time for the board to start listening to the people."

The current situation fits a pattern of public outcry over allegations of administrative improprieties. In 2005, the non-renewal of popular welding teacher Paddy Lynch led the board to hire a consultant whose report on hiring and firing practices was featured in the Durango Herald.

"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.” Read story