{"id":12990,"date":"2026-03-06T17:45:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T00:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/durango-school-district-announces-staffing-cuts-reassignments\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T21:34:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:34:57","slug":"durango-school-district-announces-staffing-cuts-reassignments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/durango-school-district-announces-staffing-cuts-reassignments\/","title":{"rendered":"Durango School District announces staffing cuts, reassignments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Teacher
Teacher Courtney Ripp helps Reynna Loos in her fourth grade class at Florida Mesa Elementary School in 2021. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Durango School District has begun announcing staffing changes \u2013 including layoffs, reassignments and non-renewals for employment \u2013 amid declining enrollment and budget challenges.<\/p>\n

The district declined to provide details, saying administrators are still notifying staff members and other changes remain in flux.<\/p>\n

The district declined to say how many employees have already been laid off or how many positions will be impacted in the near term. The changes affect a range of positions, including administrative and support staff, said Karla Sluis, spokeswoman for the district, in an email to The Durango Herald.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause staffing processes are still unfolding and involve individual personnel matters, we are not sharing specific numbers at this time,\u201d she said. \u201cOur priority is ensuring employees receive information about their positions directly from the district before details appear publicly. Some locations will need fewer staff next year, while others will need to hire. At this time, we are still working through those adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sources close to the district, who requested anonymity, said at least 10 employees are being laid off from Durango High School alone, but exact numbers at DHS and districtwide could not be confirmed.<\/p>\n

Durango School District declined to verify the total number of layoffs at DHS, saying \u201cwe are not releasing specific counts by building.\u201d<\/p>\n

The district said the staffing adjustments will take effect for the 2026-27 school year but declined to share specific, individual personnel dates \u201cto protect the privacy of employees during these transitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

We want to hear from you<\/h4>\n

Have you been laid off, reassigned or impacted in some other way by Durango School District\u2019s staff changes? We\u2019d like to hear from you. Please call Herald Staff Writer Elizabeth Pond at 375-4512 or email her at epond@durangoherald.com<\/a>. Let us know in advance if you\u2019re requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Superintendent Karen Cheser said losing a job is \u201cincredibly difficult,\u201d and staffing changes have not been made lightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe understand that staffing changes can be deeply personal and emotional,\u201d she said in a written statement to the Herald<\/em>. \u201cOur focus throughout this process has been supporting employees while making responsible decisions for the long-term stability of the district.\u201d<\/p>\n

The changes are being made amid the district\u2019s \u201ctoughest budget year in recent memory,\u201d Sluis said. The district has lost 365 students in the past five years, which has contributed to the financial struggles, she said. The district receives funding on a per-pupil basis.<\/p>\n

\u201cApproximately $2 million in reductions (are) needed to bring expenses in line with revenue,\u201d she said. <\/em>\u201cRising costs for everyday operations have significantly outpaced limited state funding increases, and declining enrollment has compounded the challenge. Reductions in federal funding have also added pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sluis said there may be opportunities for staff members whose jobs are impacted by the changes to seek reassignment in other district roles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen staff changes occur due to enrollment or budget adjustments, employees are encouraged to apply for other open roles within the district,\u201d she said. \u201cWe work to support employees through that process whenever possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the past year, the district has reduced department budgets by 10% and school budgets by 5% in an effort to offset the district\u2019s financial struggles, Sluis said. But about 87% of the district\u2019s budget is dedicated to employee compensation, meaning staff numbers are directly impacted by financial struggles like this one.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike families and businesses facing tighter budgets, school districts must sometimes make difficult adjustments to live within our means while continuing to serve students well,\u201d she said. \u201cEven with these steps, the district is facing a significant budget gap that cannot be solved through reserves alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

In November 2024, voters passed a $150 million Investing in Our Schools Bond <\/a>measure aimed at improving district schools, enhancing facilities, increasing safety and bolstering learning environments for students.<\/p>\n

But those funds cannot be used for salaries, raises or the district\u2019s day-to day operating budget, Sluis said. Bond funds can only be used for buildings, safety improvements and major facility projects.<\/p>\n

A family member of an employee told the Herald<\/em> that two employees in Spanish language interpreting have been laid off, reportedly because the number of Spanish-speaking students is declining.<\/p>\n

Sluis said none of the staff changes are linked to the decline of any specific demographic group.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will continue to provide extensive language interpretation services and support for Spanish-speaking families and students through our Multi-Lingual Learner program,\u201d she said. \u201c\u2026 The district is right-sizing positions based on overall enrollment changes across the district over the past five years.\u201d<\/p>\n

At a Feb. 10 La Plata Economic Development Alliance investor member meeting, Cheser said the district has lost 160 students so far this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany decided to leave the country \u2013 I\u2019ll leave it there,\u201d she said during the meeting.<\/p>\n

Merin Porter, a communications specialist for the district, said in an email to the Herald <\/em>that the district is giving advanced notice to staff members whose roles will be impacted by the staff changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile these employees continue to serve our students through the end of their current contracts (typically through May or June), we believe providing notice now is the most supportive path forward,\u201d Porter said. \u201c\u2026 While some administrative or support shifts may happen sooner, the primary \u2018right-sizing\u2019 of our staff is focused on the upcoming school year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Porter said the district\u2019s primary strategy for managing the $2 million budget gap has so far been \u201cnatural attrition\u201d through choosing not to backfill roles when staff members retire or resign.<\/p>\n

Sluis said some employee positions were supported through federal Title I funding<\/a>, which has been reduced in recent years. Title 1 funds support schools with high concentrations of low-income, disadvantaged and at-risk students. One allowed use of Title 1 funds is to hire additional teachers, paraprofessionals and specialists.<\/p>\n

Cheser said there is no easy path through a budget deficit caused by enrollment decline.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur focus is on making thoughtful, transparent decisions that keep the district financially stable while continuing to provide a strong educational experience for students and families,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

epond@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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