The committee working to pass the tax increase for Durango School District 9-R, Animas High and Mountain Middle schools is starting with two distinct advantages: a survey showed a 58 percent approval rating once voters had some basic information, and a donor has contributed $25,000 to kick off the campaign.
About 30 people showed up Thursday at the Powerhouse Science Center to begin organizing the campaign, dubbed Stronger Schools, Stronger Community, to encourage voters to approve a mill levy increase that will bring in $1.7 million in 2017. The funding will be distributed among 9-R and the two public charter schools on a per-pupil basis.
“We’re here because even though Colorado voters approved Amendment 23 (in 2000), there wasn’t a funding mechanism, so school funding is in a constitutional crisis,” said Dan Snowberger, 9-R superintendent. “We have four bullets on how the funds will be spent, not because we don’t know what we need but because we need so much.”
The bullets include investing in programs that will prepare students for college or the workforce; minimizing increased class sizes and lost programs; maintaining the ability to attract and retain high-quality staff, including training; and ensuring safe and innovative learning environments.
A donor has contributed $25,000 to kick off the campaign through the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado, he said. The philanthropist has asked to remain anonymous. The funds will be used for expenses such as printing yard signs and brochures. The group also agreed to hire a staff person for $2,500 per month to handle some of the numerous details involved, including getting materials to volunteers and helping to organize canvassing walks and speaking engagements with civic groups.
“Everyone at this table has busy lives with jobs and other commitments,” Snowberger said. “If we keep the person through the election, we’ll have someone to pick up the yard signs, which is something people always complain about staying up long after the election is over.” The group will still need to raise some money, he said, but the fundraising subcommittee chairmanship was one of three that remained unfilled when the meeting ended, along with social media and canvassing.
The group plans to meet at 5:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio. Next week, the group will break out into subcommittees to get started on each section of the campaign.
abutler@durangoherald.com
