I am writing as a former La Plata County commissioner, who worked hard to represent the best interests of all our citizens.
Durango School District 9-R needs a school board that works for all children – elementary to high school, the girls and boys, those with different religions or ethnicities, those with different socio-economic opportunities and different sexual orientations.
School boards across the country are being overtaken by people who do not protect the health of youths, teachers and staff members, who risk closing our schools again by opposing the reasonable use of masks and vaccines. I support candidates who stand up for the multicultural and multidimensional interests of all our kids and ensure they get the best education possible to succeed in the 21st century.
Durango High School has a 92.4% graduation rate, and 9-R has some of the highest math and reading scores in the state. I encourage you to vote for candidates who are committed to serving the interests of our children and 9-R employees. Please join me and vote for Erika Brown, Andrea Parmenter and Rick Petersen.
Julie Westendorff
Durango
