Pay increases for teachers are likely in the offing at Durango School District 9-R, which is down only 96 students, good news considering the district anticipated it would be down 200 students.
9-R budgeted for 2020-21 based on the assumption it would lose 200 students, and had agreed with the Durango Education Association that if numbers came in better than projections, increased state funding based on per pupil count would first go to teacher salary increases.
Initially, teachers had received no pay increase for 2020-21 based on a fiscal emergency declared by the district to deal with budgetary hits caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were able to retain a larger number of students than we anticipated. I think some of that came because of the three models we were able to offer,” said Superintendent Dan Snowberger. “We agreed to look at potential pay increases, and that’s clearly within our capacity.”
Based on preliminary numbers compiled Sept. 4, 9-R had 4,207 students, down from 4,302.5 students in 2019, a decrease of 95.5 students, counted as a decrease of 96 students by the district.
Some students attend school only half-time and are counted as 0.5 of a student in enrollment numbers.
During the budgeting process in June, with the impacts of COVID-19 unclear, district administrators had feared if enrollment was down by 300 students or more, mid-year budget cuts would have been required. But that seems to be a bullet dodged.
“We still are down 96 students, but when you look at what’s happening statewide, we’re pretty happy,” Snowberger said. “There are districts on the Front Range that are down thousands of students.”
9-R is using three different learning models this semester, in-class learning, remote learning and a blend of in-class and remote learning.
A separate survey taken a week after the enrollment count shows 2,684 students are using five-day a week in-class learning; 770 students are using the blended in-person, remote learning; and 722 students are using remote learning only.
Numbers for the learning model are 31 shy of total enrollment numbers. 9-R spokeswoman Julie Popp said the learning model count was taken a week after the enrollment tally so some students may have departed and students attending half-time are not included in the learning model count.
Durango High School saw an increase in students, with a 1,237 head count this year compared with 1,219 students last year, a 1% enrollment increase.
Two elementary schools tied as the schools losing the biggest percentage of students comparing 2019 to 2020. Both Animas Valley and Riverview saw 15% enrollment declines. Animas Valley went from 222 students to 188. Riverview went from 436 students to 372.
The district anticipated a declining enrollment in its elementary schools based on expectations that young families are being priced out of Durango’s expensive real estate market.
The median home price in Durango in the second quarter of 2020 was $520,250.
Snowberger said it is unclear if predictions of declining enrollment in elementary schools will play out given the effects of COVID-19. The pandemic is driving a bit of a real estate boom across the Western Slope, including Durango – especially in the high end of the market.
parmijo@durangoherald.com
Durango School District 9-R enrollment by school
Here are preliminary enrollment numbers for each school in Durango School District 9-R. Each school includes 2020 enrollment/2019 enrollment numbers and the percentage change:
Schools 2020/2019 % change
Shared schools: 56/74 -24%
Animas Valley Elementary: 188/220 -15%
Florida Mesa Elementary: 258/280 -8%
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary: 85/89 -5%
The Juniper School: 135/137 -1%
Needham Elementary: 320/363 -12%
Park Elementary: 382.5/405 -6%
Riverview Elementary: 372/436 -15%
Sunnyside Elementary: 111/123 -10%
Escalante Middle: 485/514.5 -6%
Miller Middle: 461.5/504 -8%
Big Picture High School: 62.5/75 -17%
Durango High School: 1,237/1,219 1%
Source: Durango School District 9-R
