The approved package includes permanent salary increases for all employee groups, a one-time payment for staff, and a new career pathway for special education paraprofessionals.
District leaders, DEA, and DESPA representatives all emphasized the same shared priority throughout the process: investing in the people who support students every day.
“We know strong schools start with strong people,” Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser said. “This agreement reflects months of thoughtful collaboration and a shared commitment to supporting and retaining the talented educators and staff who serve our students and families.”
The district expressed appreciation to DEA, DESPA, district leadership, and the Board of Education for their collaborative work during a challenging budget season facing schools across Colorado.
The compensation package will take effect for the 2025-26 school year.
Some community members may feel confused seeing staff reductions and salary increases discussed at the same time. School finance can feel complicated, especially during a challenging budget season.
A few important pieces of context:
- About 87% of Durango School District’s general fund budget goes directly to employee compensation.
- The approved compensation package helps DSD remain competitive in attracting and retaining qualified teachers and staff in a region with a high cost of living.
- At the same time, declining enrollment means the district receives less per-pupil funding from the state, which requires restructuring some positions and reducing staffing allocations in certain areas.
- These decisions are difficult because they impact people we deeply value.
- School districts across Colorado are facing similar challenges right now: balancing workforce retention, rising costs, and declining enrollment all at once.
We remain grateful for the educators and staff members who show up for students every day and for a community that cares deeply about public education.