Starting with the Regular Meeting on Aug. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Impact Career Innovation Center, a maximum of 15 public participants will be able sign up through an online form beginning at 5 p.m. the evening before the meeting. In recent years, public comment sign-up was only available in person 30 minutes before meetings began.
In addition, participants may now choose to speak at the meeting in person or via Zoom. Regular Board Meetings will also continue to be livestreamed on the district’s Facebook channel for virtual meeting attendees who are watching only and not providing public comment.
Why are we changing the public comment guidelines?
The Durango School District Board of Education is expanding public comment options to make participation more equitable, accessible, and aligned with community expectations.
- Equity & Accessibility: Our district covers a large geographic area, and requiring in-person attendance has made it difficult for some community members to participate, especially in winter conditions when traveling can be unsafe. Now, more people can share their voice – without the burden of travel. In addition, opening a digital sign-up form the evening before the meeting will eliminate the need for participants to leave work early or stand in a line to secure a chance to speak.
- Transparency & Engagement: Across Colorado, there is a growing expectation for more accessible and transparent public meetings. By integrating virtual participation, we ensure that anyone interested in the district's decisions can engage more easily – whether they are parents, staff, students, or community members.
- Strengthening Local Input: As part of the digital sign-up process, the district will ask speakers to share their connection to the district. Those who live or work in the district – including students, staff, and families – will be given first priority to speak. Priority is based on how closely someone is connected to our schools – not what they want to say. This helps the public understand the diverse perspectives shaping local education decisions, reinforcing our commitment to local control and community-driven guidance.
How to engage in public participation
- Complete the digital form: Sign up to speak on a Public Participation Form on the district’s Board Meetings website page. Each Regular Meeting date will have a specific form that will open at 5 p.m. the evening before the meeting and close at 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
- Prepare your comment: We recommend that comments are prepared and/or practiced in advance to make sure they meet the time limit. A maximum of 15 participants will have up to 3 minutes to speak.
- Wait for confirmation: By 5:20 p.m. on the evening of the Regular Meeting, up to 10 participants will be notified via email that they have secured a spot in the list of speakers.
- Prepare to speak in person: Doors will open for the meeting at 5 p.m. Parking is available in the lot west of Impact Career Innovation Center along Main Avenue. Additional parking is available in the large main lot to the south or the dirt lot behind the senior center.
- Prepare to speak by Zoom: Confirmed participants should perform a Zoom soundcheck before the meeting on their own using your own equipment. Make sure Zoom is installed on your device, and test your phone/laptop microphone and camera. We recommend using earbuds or a headset with a microphone for the best sound. Please plan to be in a quiet location with good lighting. Public Participation will be auto-captioned and recorded.
- Share your comment: At approximately 5:45 p.m., the Board President will begin calling the name of each participant when it’s their time to speak – either virtually or in person. District staff will record the time. When the 3-minute limit expires, the speaker is permitted to complete a sentence, but should make no further remarks.
To ensure a respectful and orderly meeting, all participants must follow basic decorum while their audio and video are on. Disruptive behavior – such as excessive background noise, speaking out of turn, or displaying visual distractions (e.g., inappropriate virtual backgrounds, or unrelated activity) – is not permitted. The webinar host reserves the right to mute microphones or turn off cameras if these guidelines are not followed. These rules apply equally to all participants, regardless of viewpoint.
Your voice matters! Thank you for engaging with Durango School District. If you have any questions about public participation at board meetings, contact [email protected].
Please see FAQ, below, which will be posted on our website and sent as a reply to all people who sign up on the digital Google form.
FAQ: Public Participation at Board Meetings
Why is the Board changing the public comment process?
The Board of Education is expanding access to make it easier for more people to participate. Online sign-up and the option to speak via Zoom remove barriers such as travel, weather, or work schedules – making the process more equitable, accessible, and aligned with community expectations.
Who can speak at a board meeting?
Anyone can request to speak. However, priority is given to those who live or work within the district boundaries – including current students, staff, parents/guardians, and residents.
How is priority determined?
When more than 15 people sign up, the district will give first priority to participants with a direct connection to the district. This helps ensure local voices are heard and decisions are shaped by those most impacted by them.
Is this based on what I want to say?
No. Priority is based solely on a person’s connection to the district – not the content of their comments. All viewpoints are welcome and treated equally.
How do I sign up to speak?
Go to the Board Meetings page on our website. Each Regular Meeting will have its own Public Participation Form. The form will open at 5 p.m. the evening before the meeting and close at 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
Can I share my speaking time or switch spots with someone else?
We prefer that each person signs up and speaks individually. Sharing time or switching speaking spots can make it difficult to manage the meeting and ensure fairness for all participants. If multiple people want to speak on the same topic, each person should sign up separately and use their own speaking time. Speaking spots are non-transferable.
Can I speak anonymously or under a pseudonym?
No. We ask for your name and connection to the district to maintain transparency and support respectful, productive dialogue.
Why is there a limit of 15 speakers?
To ensure meetings stay focused and timely, public comment is limited to 15 speakers per Regular Meeting. Each person will have up to 3 minutes to share their thoughts.
What happens if I’m not selected to speak?
If you sign up after the 15 spots are filled, you’ll receive an email letting you know. You are always welcome to submit written comments to the board at any time by emailing [email protected].
Can I still attend even if I’m not speaking?
Yes! All board meeting are open to the public, including monthly Work Sessions held throughout the year at a rotation of different schools in our district. Regular Meetings are also livestreamed on the Durango School District Facebook page. You can watch in person or online.
How are virtual speakers handled during the meeting?
Virtual and in-person participants will be called on by the Board President. We ask that virtual speakers test their Zoom setup in advance and join from a quiet, well-lit location.
Do I have to be on camera if I speak via Zoom?
Yes. To maintain transparency and mirror the expectations for in-person participants, we ask all virtual speakers to appear on camera while speaking. This helps foster a respectful and open public forum where everyone is seen and heard equally.
What if I’m not familiar with Zoom?
No problem! If you're new to Zoom or need a refresher, visit Zoom for easy video tutorials on how to join and participate in a Zoom meeting. A tutorial also can help you test your setup before the Board Meeting.
What if I have technical problems during the meeting?
We encourage all virtual participants to test their device, camera, microphone, and internet connection in advance. If we are unable to see or hear you when it’s your turn to speak, we will wait approximately 10 seconds before moving to the next speaker. Due to time constraints, we are unable to provide live tech support during the meeting. You are always welcome to submit your comments in writing to [email protected] if you experience technical difficulties.