Log In


Reset Password
News Education Local News Nation & World New Mexico

Durango schools seek support for school finance rewrite

Board members encourage other districts to join fight
Snowberger

The formula used by the state to allocate its share of the funds to K-12 education is complex, and it hasn’t been updated for more than two decades.

In August, Durango School District 9-R officially resolved to press the Colorado Association of School Boards to include a rewrite of the formula, with money following the kids who are most at risk, wherever they attend school, on its lobbying platform.

On Wednesday at a regional meeting of the school board association, the 9-R board made a pitch to the other eight districts in the area to support the resolution with their own, including estimates of how each district would fare under the formula revision suggested in the proposal.

“Silverton and Dolores have already approved a resolution,” said Dan Snowberger, 9-R superintendent. “Some of the rural districts asked, ‘What if we ask for a change, and it gets worse. Could it hurt us further? I said, ‘Can it get worse?’”

The math is compelling – 169 of Colorado’s 178 school districts would see higher per pupil funding. Durango, with its estimated 4,994 students this school year, would see 1.3 percent increase in funding, almost $477,000. Bayfield would see a 1.7 percent increase, an additional $172,000, while Ignacio would take in 3.1 percent more, for an additional $214,000.

The nine largest districts, ranging in size from 30,000 to more than 80,000 students, would see a decrease, although Snowberger said the rewrite might include a “hold harmless” provision so they don’t see a decrease, but any new monies go to the other districts. Each district in attendance at the state CASB meeting has one vote toward putting the resolution on the platform, and a simple majority is all it takes to pass, said Matt Cook, director of public policy and advocacy for the association.

“We would still have to have the will of the Legislature to get it to the floor,” Snowberger said, “and the powers-that-be certainly can block it from even going to committee. But you have to be willing to stand up and confront something that’s not equitable.”

abutler@durangoherald.com

Sep 2, 2016
Durango school board endorses La Plata County road, bridge tax
Aug 23, 2016
Durango School District OKs tax increase question for election
Jun 14, 2016
What could Durangoans expect from school tax?
Jan 21, 2016
Parents support mill levy campaign to boost funds
Jan 19, 2016
Durango schools’ dilemma: Where to trim?


Reader Comments