The Durango School District Board of Education is seeking candidates for a vacant seat in District D.
Katie Stewart, the previous occupant, resigned Dec. 31 after serving about four years.
Stewart told The Durango Herald in December she felt it was time to step away from the board as she prepared for her second session in the Colorado Legislature, which began Wednesday.
Stewart was elected to House District 59 in November 2024 and began serving in January 2025.
Under state law and Colorado Association of School Board guidance, midterm vacancies outside regular election cycles are filled by appointment.
The board declared the vacancy during a Tuesday work session at Riverview Elementary School, which started a 60-day deadline to fill the seat.
If a qualified candidate cannot be found within 60 days, the district may extend the deadline or “conduct targeted outreach to ensure a diverse pool of interested District D residents,” according to a Wednesday news release.
The appointed member will serve through November 2027.
The appointment process will involve candidates submitting letters of interest, the board interviewing candidates during a public board meeting and a final vote being cast by members of the board during open session, the release said.
Letters of interest for the position will be accepted by email until 5 p.m. Feb. 20, and interviews will be conducted publicly at the board’s regular 5:30 p.m. Feb. 24 meeting at the Impact Career Innovation Center. The public is welcome to attend the meeting in person or view the livestream but will not be permitted to submit questions for candidates.
Candidates and the public will be notified of the outcome March 14.
Non-negotiables for potential candidates are that they must live within the District D boundaries and have been registered to vote within the boundaries of the Durango School District for 12 consecutive months prior to applying – but the board will be considering a range of other criteria in their decision as well, according to the release.
Candidates criteria
According to Durango School District, the following will be considered by board members when assessing potential candidates:
● Must have been a registered elector (registered to vote within the boundaries) of the Durango School District for 12 consecutive months
● The applicant must also be a resident of the director district in which the vacancy exists, District D
● Commitment to serving all students
● Understanding of governance roles
● Ability to collaborate, listen and serve ethically
● Willingness to participate in board training and abide by Coherent Governance practices
● Availability to serve through November 2027
● Must not have been convicted of a sexual offense against a child. C.R.S. 22-31-107(1).
● All school board elections and appointment processes are non-partisan.
● Current Durango School District staff are not eligible to run, but they may encourage other people who live in District D to apply for the role.
How do I apply?
Eligible candidates can submit letters of interest to the school board by email at schoolboard@durangoschools.org.
According to the district, the letter should address:
● Why the candidate wants to serve
● Relevant experience
● Confirmation the candidate resides in District D
● The candidate’s commitment to Durango School District students and governance
● Proof of one year as a registered elector of the Durango School District
It has long been a challenge to recruit and retain a District D board member.
“It’s just historically been a difficult district seat to fill, and it’s the smallest,” said board Vice President Erika Brown. “So, I’m hopeful that willing candidates will apply. We encourage anybody that’s interested.”
The position has been unopposed in the last several election and appointment cycles.
Stewart was first appointed to the position in September 2021 to fill a vacancy left by current District E board member and Secretary Andrea Parmenter, who left the position due to a move that placed her outside District D boundaries.
Stewart then ran unopposed for the District D seat in 2023. Since there was no opposition, the election was canceled, and Stewart was sworn in.
Board members emphasized the importance of potential candidates understanding the rewarding but demanding nature of the role.
“Governance is hard,” Parmenter said. “It’s tedious, and it’s a long-term vision. For the most part, we’re not pulling plays on the field.”
Board members will hold an information session for hopeful candidates from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 6 over Zoom to outline the role and respond to questions, the release said.
epond@durangoherald.com
