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Durango 9‑R board approves revised 2026–27 school-year calendar after months of input
Summary
After extended discussion and public comment, the Durango School District No. 9‑R Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a revised 2026–27 academic calendar (referred to as modified "Calendar A"), after trustees and staff negotiated changes intended to balance early-year professional development with in‑year staff planning time.
The Durango School District No. 9‑R Board of Education on March 25 voted to approve a revised 2026–27 academic calendar after more than an hour of discussion and public comment. The motion to accept the edited version of “Calendar A” passed unanimously.
The calendar decision matters because it affects staff professional development, student contact days and family planning. Board members, district administrators and teacher representatives debated whether a large block of professional development days should come before school starts or be spread throughout the school year so teachers can analyze classroom data after meeting students.
Superintendent Dr. Chesser told the board the district had tried to balance both priorities by keeping some days for pre‑school planning while creating flexible, personalized PD options and adding an in‑year PD day. Board members and staff described details: the district retains weekly early‑release sessions (29 scheduled), adds a district PD day after winter break, and includes options for flex/remote PD to reduce the number of required full, in‑person pre‑school days.
Laura Haley, identified as a Durango High School teacher and DEA president, urged the board to spread PD days across the year so teachers can analyze assessment data after meeting their students. Third‑grade teacher and negotiations team member Leanna Spungen told the board, “When professional development days are stacked before we know our students, they aren’t as useful,” and urged more in‑year time for data work and collaboration.
Board members discussed tradeoffs. Director Rick Petersen suggested that, because district infrastructure (for example, air conditioning) and travel challenges shape start dates, the board should consider a broader review of what parts of the calendar are negotiable (for example, holiday spans or spring break). Several trustees said the district has little remaining “wiggle room” and praised Superintendent Chesser for seeking compromise.
After discussion, a motion to approve the revised Calendar A was moved and seconded; a roll call recorded all five voting trustees—Erica Brown, Andrea Parmeter, Rick Petersen, Kristen Smith and Katie Stewart—as voting “Aye.” The board directed staff to continue outreach and to consider a broader calendar survey or work‑plan discussion in the future.
The board clerk and district staff will publish the adopted calendar and notify families; trustees also discussed adding calendar review and a broader community survey as part of the board’s May work‑plan review.
At the meeting’s close trustees asked staff to share the final calendar widely and to document the flex PD options for staff planning.
