Change is afoot in the upper echelons of Durango School District 9-R.

Sheldon Keresey, Durango High School’s longtime athletic director, resigned Tuesday.

District spokeswoman Julie Popp confirmed the resignation at Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Durango School Board.

Popp said Keresey sent his letter of resignation to DHS Principal Leanne Garcia earlier Tuesday. She said in the letter, Keresey, who started with the district in June 2006, cited the burden that his job’s hours had placed on his family.

“We’ve appreciated all the work that Sheldon has provided to the school district in growing our athletics program and making our programs accessible to both the students and the community,” Popp said.

Coach attrition

In addition to Keresey’s resignation, since 2011, the high school has parted ways with 10 head coaches of varsity teams, including wrestling coach Doug Cuddie, who also resigned Tuesday.

Superintendent Daniel Snowberger, who started in 2012, acknowledged the high turnover in DHS’s athletic department.

“I’ve been here just this year, and I know of four coaches who have left. Some have resigned because it’s high, high commitment for little compensation. Our coaching salaries are definitely low in comparison to many districts in the Front Range,” he said.

Speaking in a phone interview late Tuesday evening, Snowberger said the district planned to give coaches raises next year.

Snowberger, who has championed transparency and accountability, also said in some cases since his arrival, the district had cut ties with coaches, including assistant coaches, who bridled at the district’s new expectations.

Snowberger came on as superintendent shortly after parents filed a notice of suit against the district that alleged cronyism within the athletic department.

“The principle of accountability in the district has stretched to include sports, as well,” Snowberger said. “We’ve had frankly some concerns that have been expressed by parents that we’ve investigated a little more fervently this particular year. This has led to some coaches determining they don’t want to continue with the district, and to the district determining we don’t want to continue with certain coaches.

“With some coaches, we’ve had to say, ‘Your character and your principles aren’t what we’d expect from 9-R employees,’” he said.

Jeers and cheers not a factor

Snowberger said parents’ complaints about their children getting inadequate playing time were not what concerned the district.

“Not every complaint rises to the level that a coach’s role should be questioned,” he said. “However, when a complaint is received, and then a series of complaints, and it becomes clear that students aren’t getting the support they need in a sport, we’ve made changes.”

Popp said the district was looking forward to working with Keresey to identify his replacement and thank him for his service.

School-board elections

Board members also discussed the school-board election in November.

Of seven seats, only two – those held by Julie Levy and Kristy Rodri – aren’t up for election.

The other five seats, held by board President Jeff Schell, Andy Burns, Joe Colgan, Stephanie Moran and Carol Smith, are up for election.

Within two weeks, the district will know who intends to seek re-election and who intends to retire, Popp said.

It’s likely the upcoming election will hold special significance for education in Durango and even Colorado as it likely will determine the fate of the new School Finance Act, the first attempt at statewide comprehensive education reform in decades.

Snowberger is widely credited with wresting concessions from the state Legislature that make the bill better for Durango and rural districts like it.

cmcallister@durangoherald.com