The Durango School District 9-R school board appointed Joe Kusar on Tuesday as the new District D representative.
Kusar will replace Matt Sheldon, who resigned from his position in August.
District D area includes downtown, the area east of downtown and part of north Main Avenue.
District spokeswoman Julie Popp said Kusar was one of four applicants for the position.
“We always love to have so many people interested in serving on the board,” she said. “Joe has served on several community boards, and has a lot of expertise in this area in terms of governance and how to support a functional board.”
Kusar is the senior vice president for Bank of Colorado, and is one of the founders of The Arc of Southwest Colorado, a nonprofit organization that works to ensure the rights and participation of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in society.
“The Arc of Southwest Colorado is a community organization that Durango 9-R partners with to support our students with disabilities and special education needs,” Popp said.
Kusar said his twin sons inspired his decision to run for the school board.
“... When they were in kindergarten, we learned that one was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder,” he said. “Through that experience, I was immediately immersed in the Durango 9-R structure by necessity.”
He will serve on the board for two years, fulfilling the rest of Sheldon’s term.
“The board makes appointments when someone leaves mid-stream and there is not enough time to get them on the ballot,” Popp said.
Three board positions are up for re-election at the biennial school election on Nov. 7.
Kusar said he hopes to make a change through his knowledge of special education services and finance.
“I feel that I would be an asset to the board due to my extensive financial experience,” he said. “My vision would be to provide all students with the opportunity to access tools needed to succeed. It is my belief that those opportunities and student success will strengthen our entire community.”
mrupani@durangoherald.com
