While they do not vote on decisions, their voices are valued and help guide board discussions.
Board President Kristin Smith, who conducted the swearing-in, said: “We have grown our student board member program over the years from one to now five student board members, and we're really excited to hear from them throughout the school year.”
The students showed off their student board member certificates during a swearing-in ceremony during the Sept. 23, 2025, board meeting at the Impact Career Innovation Center, from left: Board member Rick Petersen, Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser, on the Zoom screen board members Erika Brown and Katie Stewart, Board President Kristin Smith, and student board members Gus Halls, Glenneise McFarlane, Collin Crowdes, Coulee Fox, and Logan Hernandez.
The 2025-26 student board members are:
Collin Crowdes, senior at Durango High School (returning for his second year as a mentor on the board): "My experience last year was completely transformative. I had no idea how our upper level school system worked. I think it also helped me because it developed my leadership skills and my public speaking skills. I decided to come back because I really wanted to continue making an impact in my school. I saw so many of my classmates be positively impacted by the comments that I was able to make in board meetings, and I really wanted to continue that."
Gus Halls, senior at Durango High School: "I am really passionate about leadership and I really enjoy getting to know other leaders, especially within the community. I think being able to show diverse perspectives is important."
Logan Hernandez, sophomore at Durango Big Picture High School: "I really want to make the schools better. [Big Picture High School] has been a really safe place for me, and I want to make sure it's a safe place for others who need it."
Glenneise McFarlane, senior at Durango Big Picture High School: "I thought this year would be a really good time for me to embark in some leadership experience. I feel like I have great leadership potential, so thought this would be a good way to test it out."