[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6656540,"mediaKeyId","5215007-d3bd6e71292fd00dbef4f5efe5413c79","parentId",5215007,"title","Teacher and support-staff groups ratify tentative agreement after mediation, union representative says","audioSeconds",114,"startMs",416000,"endMs",530000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5215007-d3bd6e71292fd00dbef4f5efe5413c79&start=416&end=530","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5215007-d3bd6e71292fd00dbef4f5efe5413c79/thumbnail_416000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6656540/Colorado/Teacher-and-support-staff-groups-ratify-tentative-agreement-after-mediation-union-representative-says","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656540-0483d79d1debe86072832c6e9c919a0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770655735&Signature=eFN0b1l4ZUjcVmINvAsiP5LV94qoxrd1m4TMw7My5Qm4eooU0uEl1vhhXpFONAj3~ellVM-VBV1kOEMV2lP-u~OYDmzfOsQtNgWuahbNXxWSF4~aqq~8rAmSmBi42tsq7WZ46MmhzSy7MXiHHYWNoe4kk~7qCWnq-1rt5BcLTCoo44qwn-AItkHPfTIEe~D87W-SYSp6GhuPhg7O2~Ny2A~-v-j-sfAAHft4mqpVMQMMAdzO1PhSkLbAmEykOb-7JsAjxKJjyxOhPVCoajCdcX3rECQrajZ05xmVxNDhIWITg15yq0znhNdmR-HdzFzs6ZpvZO6~vErbAabfHV~KUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Durango School District, CO","date","2025-07-07T14:35:10Z","article","Amanda Smolko, who identified herself as a third-grade teacher at Florida Mesa Elementary, told the board that the district's DEA and DESPA negotiating teams reached a tentative agreement after a bargaining process that included a declared impasse and mediation. Smolko said both associations voted to ratify the proposed changes to the master agreement and encouraged the board to recognize the membership's concerns about compensation and rising living costs.

Smolko described the bargaining process
Smolko said the bargaining teams 'fought hard' to avoid one-time stipends and to secure sustained improvements. She told the board members that district educators and classified staff face rising household costs, health insurance increases and inflationary pressures. Smolko said the unions had sought a cost-of-living adjustment and that members remain worried that compensation continues to lag.

Outcome described at the meeting
Smolko said that DEA and DESPA 'did vote to ratify the proposed changes to the master agreement for this school year'; the transcript excerpt records her account but does not include the formal board action to incorporate negotiated changes into board policy or to ratify contract language on the board floor in the excerpt.

Why it matters
Ratification of negotiated agreements affects teacher and staff compensation, working conditions and budget planning. The board will incorporate any ratified contract terms into the district's financial planning and collective-bargaining record.

Ending
Smolko thanked the board and said the unions remain engaged and united behind their bargaining team. The board did not record an immediate formal approval action on contract language in the transcript excerpt; staff and the unions will follow the district's formal ratification and implementation processes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Durango School District 9-R Board of Education Regular Meeting - June 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Amanda Smolko, a third-grade teacher at Florida Mesa Elementary, told the board that the Durango Education Association (DEA) and DESPA reached a tentative agreement after mediation and that both groups voted to ratify the proposed changes.","taxTitle","Durango School District No. 9-R, School Districts , Colorado","taxId",38609,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6656544,"Construction program update: Miller, CHS and other projects move toward fall milestones, district says",314,1366000,1680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5215007-d3bd6e71292fd00dbef4f5efe5413c79&start=1366&end=1680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5215007-d3bd6e71292fd00dbef4f5efe5413c79/thumbnail_1366000.jpg","/articles/6656544/Colorado/Construction-program-update-Miller-CHS-and-other-projects-move-toward-fall-milestones-district-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656544-8cf798072a11dee117fa2a7d7965fb95/orig.mp4?Expires=1770655735&Signature=nvifFZk1RKdemUZvkcCqMHiQktIKF9IoCOiZF5xDgHAsq-7HT43An~Gidf~Fr786EoleUBdFC5dS9rEoQLyTdfFrVkGlUdHJjIqrc3r0ImvvoBezCuDh5grd12JWp4~u683yC87u6jW35rv~DS63BXMSMrIi5w-YetZOktBoP2clzoBaAWxK0Giw7ZB8wrCOqIR4LwpDe9Zhxzr0AaE1DeB~GaG5GmytBvUOAp735UHualjjPwHz8o0RwrZ1HwrscZUx91BjH08ybYTW0EiJjeYfECsND2Lg7dMntpJyrUbAIaLyppLbbZKlw0VUfJC5qIe7-fRyOOWKGn2jTwvgDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The district's capital-program manager and a Jacobs project manager presented a quarterly update on major construction projects funded by prior bond authorizations and capital budgets.

Presenters said the Miller project has completed initial construction submissions and is under state review; the team estimated that 75% to 80% of documentation points had been submitted in the first pass. Air-handler supply chain issues were noted as a near-term risk, but speakers said shipments were expected within weeks. At one high-school site, the team described a flooring correction effort, repainting and finishing work and said the building is substantially complete except for mechanical items such as boiler pumps that remain on order.

Elevators, turf and asphalt timelines
Presenters said elevator work at DHS and Park sites has been challenging; crews are working to complete elevator work shifted to close to the start of school, and principals were coordinating contingencies. At one site the asphalt curing schedule required a longer cure time (manufacturer revised cure from 7\u0010 to 30 days), which shifted the timeline for sod installation and field surfacing. The team said that schedule change pushed back some turf and site work by several weeks.

Specialty work and permits
At Escalante, presenters described a complex air-handler replacement that requires cutting openings into the existing enclosures and coordinating crane and pad work to remove large equipment without compromising roof structures. The district said it had received a state permit invitation-to-bid and had scheduled contractor bid dates with the aim of board consideration in August and construction start in September; an eight-month construction timeframe was projected for the larger package.

Site improvements, furniture and technology
Staff said they executed a contract for asphalt/concrete site work and that a furniture package and technology scope for administration buildings had been procured. The district also described Starlink as a short-term backup in some rural sites while longer-term fiber options remain under discussion with local providers.

New school planning and enrollment projections
Project staff reviewed site planning and discussed the new school schematic design. At the $675-per-square-foot cost assumption used in planning, the team said the current budget supports about 70,000 square feet; a draft program of 71,500 square feet would require trimming roughly 1,500 square feet or adding flex spaces. Staff also cited demographer input that projects growth focused south and east of Florida Mesa and said planners are considering future expansion options and designs that would simplify later additions.

Why it matters
The program update details the sequencing and risk points for multiple projects that affect when buildings will be ready for students and when the district will complete the bond-funded portfolio. Several schedule adjustments and supply-chain issues were flagged that could affect fall 2025 openings and athletic field availability.

Ending
District staff will return with refined schedules and financial strategy once bid results and final costs are available; the board asked to be kept informed of any changes that would affect school openings or occupancy.","A Jacobs project manager and district staff gave a quarterly status report on major construction and capital projects. Work on the Miller project is underway with some schedule adjustments; air handlers, elevators and other building systems were discussed and state permitting and bid timelines were outlined for upcoming work.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6656547,"District seeks to begin low-flow fixture replacement under bond; staff say project near budget with small contingency",74,651000,725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5215007-d3bd6e71292fd00dbef4f5efe5413c79&start=651&end=725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5215007-d3bd6e71292fd00dbef4f5efe5413c79/thumbnail_651000.jpg","/articles/6656547/Colorado/District-seeks-to-begin-low-flow-fixture-replacement-under-bond-staff-say-project-near-budget-with-small-contingency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656547-323ec501ecb3dff827a186ed6353cec7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770655735&Signature=KM2WAtv0ztBjM-wxXzXPgV1VkYF7TNYPJBsHDL17l2ho-C4MeOEI~TYWuafREEyBP40aoNLYWPnOTyaxUEhiIn~1VbMw7fCQ2~GDH5b9SSjf3c5Nsi9IGeHEe9TkCxgn-2MOM0OEb1DFfcE-Spq6blvzpEg2-qxCYKT7KB~LdV-S7V7Et7Bvq5sdhbBFCdrLelfOIQTGySf4GChEOgQxcvoh82oylEEHquZn2vacz-ocqzQgy9owoV2Noie2HoNlpdWQjcBaWvtXxWOima3V7001popoYiN4cbPcXMA1HQVwk32JrAuiUo9oT0Je8WCT~zT1bc5wfMye0Q0O-vrXlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented a contract to begin replacement of low-flow water fixtures across the Durango School District No. 9-R, work staff said is funded from the district's authorized bond allocations.

Staff said the proposal builds on an audit performed by a vendor identified in the packet (referred to in meeting remarks as Verigee/Veraging) that previously supported the district's LED lighting project. The scope would replace fixtures such as faucets and some flush valves and, in limited cases where fixtures are in poor condition, full fixture replacements (urinals and toilets). Staff estimated the work would touch roughly 1,100 fixtures districtwide, with Sunnyside excluded from the current contract for budgetary reasons.

Budget, contingency and schedule
Staff told the board the contract sits at the top of the allocated budget for this line of work and that the available cushion is small (staff cited roughly a $200 line-item cushion in the immediate contract package). In addition, staff and the vendor discussed a program contingency staged into the deferred-maintenance allocation; meeting remarks described a contingency target that would equate to roughly 10% of the value of a $600,000 line item in one portion of the program (the example used in discussion equated 10% to about $60,000).

Staff said they had considered removing another school from the scope to increase the contingency buffer but believed the current scope carried minimal risk and that the vendor (and staff) were comfortable proceeding. The district noted a related $600,000 line item for Needham was included in the deferred-maintenance/bond packaging and that some cost savings from fixture replacements are projected over time through reduced water consumption.

Work sequencing and disruption
District staff said the work is planned to begin in the fall and would be executed, when possible, outside school hours to limit disruption, similar to the prior LED lighting project. Because work spans many campuses, staff outlined mitigation options: (1) reduce scope to postpone work at the least-impacted sites; (2) stage work across the school year; or (3) draw on program contingency. Staff also noted that in many locations the work is limited to replacing faucet hardware, while in a smaller number of rooms full fixture replacements will be required.

Board action
The transcript of the June 24 meeting includes staff presentation and discussion of the contract scope, budget and contingency but does not include a recorded board vote on the contract in the excerpt. Staff said design contracts have been executed for package procurement and that procurement and design meetings are under way for multiple deferred-maintenance projects.

Why it matters
Replacement of low-flow fixtures is a bond-funded deferred-maintenance item that reduces water consumption and addresses aging plumbing assets across district campuses. The project's small immediate contingency and the exclusion of one campus from this contract were points of concern for some board members; staff said options exist to cut scope if unexpected issues arise.

Ending
Staff will return with formal contract documents and schedule details; the board directed staff to proceed with prudent risk management and to report any significant scope or cost changes back to the board.","District staff presented a contract scope to replace low-flow water fixtures across most district campuses using bond funds. The district plans to start work in the fall; staff said the project covers roughly 1,100 fixtures, excludes Sunnyside for budget reasons, and carries only a small contingency in the contract.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6656551,"Durango School District adopts FY26 budget, to use $1.9 million in reserves as board warns cuts likely",2869,10691000,13560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5215007-d3bd6e71292fd00dbef4f5efe5413c79&start=10691&end=13560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5215007-d3bd6e71292fd00dbef4f5efe5413c79/thumbnail_10691000.jpg","/articles/6656551/Colorado/Durango-School-District-adopts-FY26-budget-to-use-19-million-in-reserves-as-board-warns-cuts-likely","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656551-869186d044b48ff8f4ec0634138bbba4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770655735&Signature=Tw2j43B~LkfkP9O6gMBZ2RLh86gtaNMtDkfNiZU1ZklVTDGCXgBogQfCJzVwhkYsRkvv8SSIdg8rX5VlPY3RsW04eQx0U~08L67WXQkvxRyDJhyNyuy9ERHySyZE2igTFn5bmO65JWMi246erKlwRDpBgX0cZrgX3gzVl4pYUR8OH0LWhar4tnehOusK6KjsL7MWN9uNGq~Ph7bpYCzR-38-yPpHlQTYej7F8S5lo7TsCkaeI4b08mbXuyCaTbt7UpNhM~mo3pAdZN5VaYP6aXCUWlgEm5ZlI7mS8svrOcDFPsW5poJZYJgSX~wYzwaeBbclCZb5T7LiNYgrxKZg-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Durango School District No. 9-R Board of Education on June 24 approved the district's fiscal year 2026 proposed budget and a fiscal year 2025 supplemental budget, authorizing the one-time use of approximately $1.9 million from the district's general-fund reserves to balance the operating budget.

Board members and district leaders told the meeting that the one-time drawdown is not sustainable and that further reductions to staff, programs or transfers are likely unless revenue increases materialize. The board directed staff to convene a budget review committee and to provide monthly public updates on a range of options, including personnel reductions, program cuts and changes to interfund transfers.

Why it matters: the board and staff said the district faces a structural gap. Using reserves to smooth a single year's shortfall would reduce the district's financial cushion and require either recurring revenue or deeper cost reductions in subsequent years to avoid repeated draws on savings.

Board discussion and next steps
District officials said the FY26 budget shortfall is driven by modest increases in state funding that do not keep pace with rising costs such as insurance and negotiated employee compensation. The board and the district's financial advisory group emphasized that reserves are one-time funds and cannot be used to sustain recurring salary or program costs.

District leaders described a bundle of near-term measures already enacted in preparing the FY26 proposal: hiring freezes for certain positions, a temporary pause on some administrative hires, and percentage reductions applied to departmental and school budgets. Staff told the board they will now create a standing budget review committee that will meet monthly and report back with options, timing and estimated fiscal effects. The committee will include board representation and be the conduit for ongoing community information and staff updates.

Board members and advisors repeatedly urged plain-language communication with district employees and the public so affected staff and families can plan and so community members better understand the limits of reserve funds.

Votes at a glance
- Adoption of the FY26 proposed budget and FY25 supplemental budget: motion moved and seconded; board vote recorded as passed on June 24 (vote recorded on the meeting record). The motion authorizes the use of general-fund balance to adopt the proposed budgets.
- Resolution to participate in the coordinated election (Nov. 2025) and designate an election official: motion moved and seconded; board vote recorded as passed on June 24 (see Votes at a glance item).
(For full text of motions and meeting minutes, see the district packet.)

Clarifying details cited at the meeting
District staff said the FY26 budget requires an approximate $1,900,000 use of general-fund reserves to adopt a balanced budget for 2025-26. Staff noted other fund transfers were adjusted: the typical transfer to the capital projects fund (historically $1,500,000) was reduced to $680,000 in the FY26 proposal. Board and staff repeatedly described the $1.9 million as a one-time draw intended to allow additional time to identify sustainable reductions.

What the board did not decide
The board did not vote on specific staff-layoff or program-closure measures on June 24. Board members directed staff to convene the budget review group and to return with recommendations, analyses and timeline for any proposed personnel or program changes.

What to watch next
The district said the budget review committee will meet monthly beginning in July and will report to the board; staff will provide public updates via the district newsletter. The board also asked for expanded communications to staff and families explaining the difference between one-time reserves and recurring revenue.

Ending note
Board members and staff framed the action as a difficult but deliberate step to manage a single-year shortfall while preserving time to seek alternatives. The board's advisers described the decision as a temporary measure that increases pressure to identify recurring revenue or make structural budget reductions.","The Durango School District No. 9-R Board of Education on June 24 approved its fiscal year 2026 proposed budget and a fiscal year 2025 supplemental budget, authorizing use of roughly $1.9 million from general-fund reserves and directing staff to form a budget review committee to identify longer-term cuts and options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Teacher and support-staff groups ratify tentative agreement after mediation, union representative says

Construction program update: Miller, CHS and other projects move toward fall milestones, district says

District seeks to begin low-flow fixture replacement under bond; staff say project near budget with small contingency

Durango School District adopts FY26 budget, to use $1.9 million in reserves as board warns cuts likely