Tom Burris, superintendent of the Montezuma-Cortez School District, announced his resignation Tuesday during the board’s September meeting, ending a three-year tenure marked by reforms, salary increases and community backlash.
Burris became interim superintendent in April 2022 after five years of retirement, following a call from former board member and athletic director Stacy Hall. He initially agreed to a four-month stint but extended his role.
“One board member questioned my sanity and said something about stepping into a s-show,” Burris said.
He told the board they have 60 days to find a replacement. If none is named, he will stay until his contract ends in July 2026.
Before announcing his resignation, Burris reflected on his efforts to overhaul the district. He fired two employees for “a good cause” and challenged the district’s legal counsel over prior superintendent separations and lawsuits, prompting the counsel’s withdrawal days later.
“The board chair and vice chair said, ‘Don’t come in and start firing people.’ I think I made it three or four days and I fired two people for good cause,” Burris said.
“I also attended the executive session and challenged the practices of the law team who guided the board in the separation and subsequent lawsuits surrounding the last superintendent,” Burris said. “Three days later, I received a notice that they could no longer represent us, and to the same board member that night, I said, ‘It’s a sad day when your superintendent knows more about law than the legal counsel does.’”
Burris oversaw the closure of Manaugh Elementary and worked with Pleasant View to open a charter school.
Early in his tenure, he discovered improper crediting for homeschooling, study halls and after-school activities; online classes awarding credit for attendance; and students earning up to 14 credits a year with “absolutely no rigor.” Graduation rates looked strong, but many students struggled in college or dropped out.
He pushed for in-person education for special needs and minority students, despite resistance from teachers.
“This was met with an outcry from teachers who want small classes back, from those who say these kids can’t learn, we need to meet them where they are,” Burris said. “And this translated into, ‘Let’s dumb things down.’”
By the end of his second year, all district schools were off the state’s clock and test scores had improved. This year, Kemper Elementary returned to year-one improvement status.
Burris also faced sharp criticism.
“I listened to a community member stand up and accuse me of being the most ill-prepared superintendent in recent times, only to see the scores of the schools improve my first year again.” Burris said. “I endured him and other individual’s posts and criticisms of my contract with the district. I watched as my school credit card statement was posted on Facebook with false assertions that I was taking lavish trips.”
“Again, I have lunch with my administrative team once a week for $100 lunch. I receive $1,000 worth of their time, and we solve problems and move forward,” he continued. “I’ve broken a lot of eggs in 2½ to 3½ years, and some were rotten to the core.”
He highlighted gains in test scores, facilities, salaries and district image.
“I want you to know student achievement in this district can be done. We owe this to our kids, even in the face of opposition,” Burris said. “We raised test scores, raised salaries almost $15,000, passed the first-ever mill levy, improved buildings, improved our image with our sports teams and we have a beautiful and professional boardroom, all in three years. Thank you to the staff and community for the support and the belief in our kids.”
Burris said he promised board member Sheri Noyes he would support her through her term, which ends in November.
“I made a promise to Sheri Noyes a long time ago that I would see her out in her last term as a board member,” Burris said. “She has been a delight to work with and we have done amazing things.”
“We’ve had fun here for the second time, and we have focused on kids,” he saId. “I encourage you to maintain focus and keep striving for 100% of our students performing at grade level and becoming successful in college and career.”
Noyes thanked Burris for his service.
“Thank you for everything you’ve endured, everything you’ve done, every wall you’ve been up against for the sake of our students and staff,” Noyes said.
In an email to The Journal on Thursday, Noyes said Burris was resigning early because she was going to be termed out as a board member in November.
“Mr. Burris mentioned that he would ‘see me out’ at my last meeting. Meaning, when I go, he was going too,” Noyes said. “So, that was his reason for his intended early retirement/resignation. There is a chance he may finish out his contract if we do not find a suitable replacement.“
In citizen comments, Abbie Herring shared that she had come to read a petition that had been created a few days ago and requested that Burris be fired from the district.
“So, thank you for resigning today,” Herring said. “I know our school is much better off without you in charge.”
Herring addressed the board, asking that if they don’t find someone to hire in 60 days that they don’t bring Burris back. She added that the petition has reached 200 signatures in 36 hours and there may have been more, but some staff members had told her they were afraid to sign for fear of retaliation.
“I want to see someone with integrity, someone who's humble and someone who's caring about our children, and that is not what l've seen from Burris,” Herring said. “I ask that you keep those things in line with hiring someone. I ask that if in 60 days you do not find someone else, you do not bring him back.”
This is a developing story.
