Students, residents urge Durango School Board to keep Pride and Black Lives Matter flags; board advances support resolutions

Hundreds of community members attended a Durango School District No. 9‑R board meeting that centered on whether teachers and classrooms may display Inclusive Pride and Black Lives Matter flags, and on how the district should respond to online threats targeting students and staff.

Speakers during the public comment period included students who said classroom flags signal safety, local nonprofit leaders who urged the board to treat threats seriously, and faith and community representatives who called the symbols “life‑affirming.” Sandra Hughes, executive director of 4 Corners Rainbow Youth Center, told the board the group is prepared to provide services and professional development if the district proceeds with a policy supporting inclusive symbols: “Please remember that you’re not just defending symbols, you’re protecting every student’s right to learn in an environment where they belong.”

The remarks built on testimony from current and former Durango High School students describing bullying, suicidal ideation and sustained harassment. A former DHS student identified as Lyric said Black Student Alliance fundraising raised “over $20,000” for travel and events, and described being one of 11 Black students in her graduating class; other students described classroom teachers whose pride pins or flags created “safe spaces.” A student speaker said, “Having those flags in my classroom saved me and helped me accept myself.”

Board members signaled broad support for symbolic measures intended to protect marginalized students and discussed a pair of “support” resolutions. Board president Kristen Smith and several other board members described receiving extensive correspondence—she said about 78% of the district’s correspondence on the issue supported the resolutions—and acknowledged some out‑of‑state messages contained threats. At the meeting one board member apologized for an earlier unprofessional remark and said the dispute should not be allowed to distract from the district’s equity work.

The board took steps to place the support resolutions on the agenda for action. Several board members emphasized that the primary concern is student safety and wellbeing. As one board member put it, “You can’t learn if you’re not safe,” a line echoed by the district’s director of student support services during the meeting.

The board also discussed the legal context raised by public commenters; a district staff member advised the board that display decisions are treated as a form of government speech when schools choose messages that support their educational mission. Multiple public commenters cited research linking inclusive school climates to better attendance, graduation and mental‑health outcomes.

The public comment period lasted the allotted time and then the board moved on to the rest of the agenda.