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