Employees and Durango School District reached a tentative pay increase agreement Tuesday after two negotiation sessions over the course of two days.
Durango Education Association and Durango Educational Support Professionals Association must ratify the agreement before the Durango Board of Education reviews it and votes to approve or reject it during their next regular meeting May 26.
The tentative agreement permanently builds last year’s 2% cost-of-living raise into employee pay scales; tacks on a 2.5% salary increase for licensed staff members and student service providers and a 3% increase for education support professionals; advances eligible employees on the salary schedule; provides a one-time bonus of as much as $1,800; and creates a new tiered pay pathway starting at $21.14 to $26.50 per hour for special education paraprofessionals.
DESPA and DEA members initially requested pay increases for staff members in the 4% to 6% zone.
In a Tuesday news release from the district, Superintendent Karen Cheser said the agreement “reflects our deep appreciation for the people who make our schools strong.”
“While many districts across the state are facing extremely difficult financial realities, we worked hard to protect employee compensation as much as possible and continue investing in the people who support students every day,” she said.
DESPA negotiator and district special education staff member Jake Richmond said he felt the district’s administrative team was receptive and transparent throughout negotiations.
“All we’re asking, really, at the end of the day, is for employees and all our staff to be on the top of the priority list,” he said.
Seventeen people made up this year’s negotiation team, including members of DEA and DESPA and several Durango School District representatives. The district side included Chief Operations Officer Chris Coleman, Superintendent Karen Cheser, Chief Financial Officer Kira Horenn and Executive Director of Human Capital Laura Galido.
Kayla Mack, who was brought on to mediate negotiations last year after several unsuccessful sessions, was brought back to facilitate again this year.
Negotiations began Monday afternoon around 3 p.m., and the tentative agreement was reached around the same time the following day – a much quicker turnaround than last year.
The 2025 negotiations spanned several tense weeks before teachers and the district reached an agreement that involved a 2% cost-of-living adjustment, movement for eligible staff members one step upward on the district’s pay scale and several paid days off, among other changes.
Echoing a similar tune from last year’s negotiations, school union members argued that current wages are insufficient when inflation and high cost of living are considered, and urged the district to use more of its reserve funds to address salary shortfalls.
As of June 2025, the district had 32% in reserves, Richmond said – 14% more than law and local policy dictates. A reserve of that size is not in line with fiscal responsibility, he argued, if it results in stagnant wages and high staff turnover.
According to Richmond, the district has a turnover rate of 21.3% overall and 40% for paraprofessionals specifically.
DESPA negotiator Ameryn Maestas said local cost of living has increased over 15% since 2023 – but wages haven’t kept pace, leaving 40% of teachers and over 90% of support staff members below the living wage threshold.
“I am interested in ensuring we are not in a place where we do not have savings to address fiscal emergencies in times which may be even more fiscally extreme than (where) we are now,” Horenn said during day one of negotiations.
Lindsay Hayden, a math teacher who has worked with the district since 2015, said her salary makes it difficult to live and work in Durango.
“I’ve been a single mom for many years, and it’s hard to make ends meet here,” she said. “While I’ve been getting my masters, I’ve moved up the (district) ladder, but it’s still hard. I’m living in a friend’s house who’s giving me a great deal on rent. I’m here because I’ve had people that have helped me be here, not because the district is paying me enough to live here.”
Liz Dillman, who works in English Language Development with the district, said it felt good to stand alongside teachers and members of DESPA and DEA during negotiations.
“Having a voice that can unify and can stand in solidarity with our fellow workers, and also in support of our schools, in support of our students, so that they have a quality experience, (is important),” she said. “… We’re not looking to do anything damaging to the school district – we are the school district, right? We want to find a sustainable solution that keeps us intact and keeps us functional.”