New 9-R Superintendent Interviews this week at Miller

If you've ever thought your participation in local education decision making could make a difference, now's the time to find out. The 9-R School Board last spring voted not to extend our current superintendent, Mary Barter's, contract beyond June 2008.

This week the 9-R Board is holding 3 public forums at Miller Middle School from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Read the Durango Herald's Jan. 16 story for the names and backgrounds of the candidates. (See Herald )

The choice from this short list of three candidates has been described as "the most important decision this board will ever make."

If you go:
The board will appreciate your thoughtful questions about each candidate's ability to address the concerns our own community has raised in the past few years - particularly how they would go about restoring and mending community relationships - see the report prepared by the search firm based on responses they attribute to 225 individuals. We all know and hear about our strengths - great setting and wonderful community - but it is important that we consider the list of concerns that have been raised.

Read the report online or if you're pressed for time, some of the concerns consistently expressed are listed below. We encourage your participation, even if you just attend just to listen! One of these three individuals will take the reins of what many believe to be our most important local institution.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGES OR ISSUES FACING THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT?


CONSISTENTLY REPORTED

Need programs that serve the needs of all students in the community including those who do not plan to attend college

Support for students at risk

Teacher salaries are too low considering the cost of living and as compared to the state average

Lack of trust - within the district and from parents and the community toward the district

Teachers and administrators are overwhelmed with the number of programs and reporting activities that are required

Demographic shift within the community - Diverse opinions among different factions of the community about the needs of students and direction of the district has led to polarization

Lack of a long-range plan

Professional Learning Communities need continued support and evaluation

Too many programs – need to focus

Need for high school reform

Poor communications

Top-down decision-making

Too many federal and state mandates

Perception that a small group of people has undue influence with the Board of Education

Superintendent needs to spend more time in the schools

Drug and alcohol use and sexual activity of teens

Need to make full use of community resources and programs

Low morale of employees

Inconsistent management of each school – too much site based decision making

CURRENT, FUTURE AND FORMER BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS

New Board of Education will need to review Robert’s Rules of Order and similar protocols

The transition from middle school to high school

Teacher evaluation system needs to be revised

Review the resources allocated to the elementary, middle and high school levels

Are we providing enough challenge for students

Guidance counselors need to provide more direct assistance to students

The grading system

The Board of Education is mired in too many issues

Making students leaders for the future

Need to expand experiential learning opportunities for students

COMMMUNITY and BUSINESS LEADERS

Parents and community members need a vehicle to communicate concerns and discuss educational issues

Parents feel marginalized

Few options for students who struggle

Need multiple pathways to graduation

Failure to engage the community

High school is too large

District is reactionary to multiple issues

Achievement of children of color

Some educational and corporate resources not being utilized

District needs to be proactive

Need more options for students

Special education issues

Support for teachers to take classes

Need more coordination between the district and Fort Lewis College

Not enough professional development

Impact of Animas High School and private schools

Contract negotiations

Need additional emergency training

Open campus creates a safety issue

Drop out rate – especially among minorities

Structure of school board meetings does not foster involvement

Political mandates (e.g.: CSAP testing)

Need to help students learn how to process information

Curriculum needs to be more experiential and engaging

Basic math skills are weak

Lack of transportation for after school activities

Student teacher ratios

Adjusting to growth and change within the community

Teaching to the lowest common denominator because of NCLB

COMMMUNITY and BUSINESS LEADERS (Cont.)

Inconsistency in carrying out high school athletic programs

District leadership needs to establish a vision for social-emotional education

Need more ethnic diversity among staff

Too much standardized testing

The trimester calendar

Lack of true career counseling – not everyone should go to college

Balancing holistic education and achieving the required test scores

Transportation costs

PARENTS

More support needed for at-risk, disabled and minority students

Retention of teachers and administrators

Wide variation in values and expectations of parents and community

The achievement gap

Need to promote from within

Need a firm attendance policy

Funding is insufficient

Role of DAAC needs to be clarified and supported

Size of high school too large

Declining participation of parents in middle and high schools

ADMINISTRATORS

Organizational structure needs to put the superintendent closer to schools and principals

High school needs to pay more attention to the whole child – (e.g.: drug & alcohol programs, tutoring)

We need to be open to reveal our weaknesses in order to keep improving

Relationship between the central office and the school sites needs to be improved

Wide range of opinions within the community related to school issues

Program inconsistencies at elementary and middle schools (e.g.: report cards at elementary schools)

Inexperience of the Board

Better use of policy governance

Micromanagement by the Board of Education

Need to provide mentoring to new principals

Professional development needs to be more focused and requires follow up

We’re being pulled in too many directions and can’t focus as a result

We can’t rest on our laurels – We have to keep improving

Realign budget priorities

Cultural Competency program needs to be supported

Technology needs to be a funded priority

ADMINISTRATORS (Cont.)

Need to review and evaluate PLC’s to explore new ideas for school improvement

Need to develop internal student assessments and refine data-based decision making

Too many written reports required

Need student-centered budgeting

The organization is not structured for student performance

Need to reevaluate the structure of superintendent’s cabinet

Teacher, support staff, administrative and BOCES salaries too low

The conflict between site-based and centralized decision-making needs to be addressed

We need to look at 21^st Century competencies

Need to hire a new CFO

Professional development

Community of privilege

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.