Dear Durango School District Families and Community Members,
I am writing to you with honesty and transparency about the decisions our district has been
navigating this spring — and what they mean for your children, our schools, and our shared
future. These have been difficult conversations, and you deserve to hear directly from me.
Understanding our budget: How we got here
Last summer, our district made an important commitment to our teachers and staff by
increasing compensation. It was the right decision. But it came with a financial reality: projected expenses exceeded revenue by approximately $4 million.
Before this school year even began, we took significant steps to close that gap. We cut every
district office budget by 10%, every school budget by 5%, and reduced 12.6 district office
positions. Those actions brought the shortfall down to $1.9 million, which was carried by our
savings balance — but we knew that was not a long-term solution.
School districts are legally required to balance their budgets every year. That is not a choice — it is the law. And so our budget committee has worked all year to find a path forward that protects classrooms while maintaining the financial stability our schools need.
What about our fund balances?
Many families have asked: why can't the district simply use its savings to cover these costs? It is a fair question, and I want to be fully transparent.
We have two fund balance accounts — $3.5 million in unassigned reserves and $7 million in assigned reserves. Both exist because of one-time federal ESSER funds the district received during the COVID pandemic. That money will not come again.
Using one-time savings to pay for ongoing costs like salaries would simply delay the problem — and make it far worse within a few years, when those reserves are gone and there is nothing left to replace them.
The $7 million in assigned funds has already been designated for essential school resources over the next few years: classroom supplies, curriculum materials, technology, student travel, intervention support, and capital improvements not covered by the bond. These are commitments we made to our schools. Using that money to patch a recurring budget gap would mean those resources disappear.
It is also important to understand the broader context: Colorado currently funds education at 49th in the nation. Until that changes at the state level, districts like ours face a very narrow set of options. We are not alone in these challenges — but we are committed to making decisions that protect students and classrooms first.
What this means for our schools and staff
We have made staffing decisions with one guiding principle: keep teachers in classrooms. At the district office level, we have reduced 30.6 positions as part of a deliberate effort to "rightsize" our administrative support so that instructional staff is protected.
Teacher reductions have come from two specific places: the loss of five English Language Development (ELD) positions, due directly to a decline in our multilingual learner population; and adjustments to our staffing formula as overall district enrollment has decreased. Class sizes have been increased by one student at 5th grade and middle school, and two students at the high school level.
For every affected staff member, our team has been working to find a position within the district. That effort has largely been successful, and we remain committed to placing every talented educator we can. This community's teachers are irreplaceable, and we do not take these changes lightly.
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 school year, Title I federal funds have been reduced by 30%, and we are actively working through what that means for our schools. We do anticipate a $600,000 revenue increase from the new school finance formula, which will help.
The Sunnyside Elementary conversation
I want to speak directly about the potential consolidation of Sunnyside Elementary School,
because I know this is close to many families' hearts.
No one — not me, not our Board, not our leadership team — wants to close a school. If there were any responsible path that avoided this conversation entirely, we would take it. But our obligation to the long-term health of this district requires that we honestly examine every option.
After careful analysis of enrollment projections, research on class size and instruction, and a review of where our students live, Sunnyside was identified as the candidate for potential consolidation. Its proximity to the new Three Springs Elementary School was a key factor.
We heard clearly from families that routing students first to Florida Mesa Elementary as a transition step would be unnecessarily disruptive. We listened. The revised recommendation calls for a single, direct transition to Three Springs Elementary when it opens in the 2028-29 school year — giving families time to plan and allowing staff to transition thoughtfully.
The Board is continuing its deliberations with the goal of reaching a decision in May. They are actively seeking feedback from families and the community, and your voice matters in this process. Please share your perspective using the link below:
Provide online feedback on the Sunnyside consolidation recommendation.
Learn more about the Sunnyside consolidation recommendation.
Also, you are invited to attend our upcoming Community Forum on Tuesday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m. at Florida Mesa Elementary School (216 Highway 172) to share your thoughts directly
with the Board of Education.
Sign up to speak at the Community Forum by noon on May 5.
A word of gratitude
Our students show up every day ready to learn — and that is because of the families and communities that surround them. Thank you for your trust, your patience, and your partnership as we navigate this challenging season together.
If you have questions or would like to talk further, my door is always open. Please don't hesitate to reach out.
With deep gratitude,
Karen Cheser, EdD
Superintendent, Durango School District
[email protected]