Sunnyside Elementary School faculty, parents and students were bursting with pride Thursday night as Durango School District 9-R Superintendent Daniel Snowberger presented the principal with the John Irwin Award.
The John Irwin Award is bestowed by the Colorado Department of Education to the top 8 percent of schools in three performance categories over the course of three years: student achievement, progress in closing learning gaps and overall growth.
Snowberger said it was the second time in three years Sunnyside had won the distinction.
Principal Vanessa Fisher, standing shoulder to shoulder with her staff, thanked the district, saying, “It is a joy to be here tonight.”
Three members of the school board – Kristy Rodri, Stephanie Moran and Carol Smith – congratulated Sunnyside.
The award ceremony followed a chili cook-off in the cafeteria. Seventeen chilis were entered. A panel of three named Number 14 “most unique” while Number 2 won both “Best Spicy with Chicken” and “People’s Choice.”
Snowberger used the award ceremony to update an unusually robust crowd of parents on the district’s progress and direction, including telling them about the budget he just proposed for the 2013-14 fiscal year, which would shrink the proportion of money going to salaries by giving principals more flexibility in hiring staff.
Parents asked about potential changes in the school calendar, home-schooling and the eventual extension of Small Learning Communities at Durango High School, among other things.
Snowberger, who admits his many attempts to get parents engaged in the district have largely fallen flat, told the audience he wasn’t “afraid to answer hard questions.”
They stayed for more than an hour.
cmcallister@durangoherald.com
