What we discussed and reviewed
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The district's intended purchase of Lightner Creek Village apartments using 2025 bond monies toward the voter-approved workforce housing commitment
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CMAS results: What the standardized scores mean and Durango's rank in the top 10 districts in the state
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Twin Buttes property negotiations discussion (in executive session)
Actions we took
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Approved the HR consent agenda.
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Approved August and September meeting minutes.
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Approved change orders on bond projects, which remain on budget.
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Approved supporting Propositions LL and MM, which will be on November's ballot. Both relate to Healthy Meals for All as well as the Get It Gone campaign, which focuses on the need for increased school funding. The board will draft resolutions in support of these to formally adopt at a later meeting.
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Evaluated and voted on all Results Policies 1-4, noting areas of compliance and improvement, and noted exceptions for all.
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Found the Superintendent in compliance with monitoring of Operational Expectation (OE) 11: Facilities.
Community engagement
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Administration staff appreciation
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The 2025-26 student board members were sworn in and introduced to the public. The board welcomes Collin, Coulee, Glenniese, Gus, and Logan and looks forward to learning from them.
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15 members of the community spoke during a full public participation. Parents, teachers, staff, and community members shared on a variety of topics, which included support for the district and board as well as the need for better parent communication and partnership, dyslexia screening, continued teaching of fair and balanced history, administrative transparency, and increased data security.
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Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser addressed misinformation about DSD online and in the community, as well as highlights of some of the recent successes of the schools.
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The Juniper School (Durango School District's only charter school) presented CMAS results and shared current academic challenges, particularly at the middle school level.
Upcoming
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State of the District & Community Celebration: Monday, Sept. 29, Impact Career Innovation Center (2410 Main Ave., on the Durango High School campus), 5:30-6:30 p.m.
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Board Coffee Chat via Zoom: Tuesday, Sept. 30, 5:30 p.m.; held via Zoom at this link
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Board Work Session: Tuesday, Oct. 14, 5:30 p.m., Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School (11274 Highway 140, in Hesperus)