With the start of classes less than two weeks away, Animas High School’s new entrance off U.S. Highway 160 will probably not be ready in time for the first day of classes.
The contractor has said it will be two to three weeks, Head of School Sean Woytek told the school’s board at its meeting Wednesday night. After that, the developers of Twin Buttes plan to level and gravel the two lots close to the entrance where students and some staff park.
Because numerous construction trucks will be traveling by the school ramp, it will be illegal for people to park cars and walk on the road, so pedestrians will have to use the nature trail along Lightner Creek to move from the lower lots to the school.
Most of the meeting centered on the tax increase measure that will support Durango School District 9-R, Animas High and Mountain Middle public charter schools. Scheduled to go on the November ballot, the measure would distribute the requested mill levy override funding, which will be about $1.7 million the first year, on a per-pupil basis.
The legalities of the ballot measure are complicated, Woytek said. The school board has to approve the ballot language and a memo of understanding between the three entities before AHS and Mountain Middle can approve it. The school board will need to approve the language at its Aug. 31 meeting to make the deadline for the November ballot.
“It’s taking a really long time, maybe because three lawyers are involved,” Woytek said.
The board is gearing up to campaign for mill levy passage and will be recruiting parents to help in the efforts.
While students still have a few last days of freedom before the first bell rings, Animas High staff began its orientation Wednesday, which will take about a week and a half, Woytek said, up from a week last year.
“It is supercool and going very smoothly to have everyone returning,” Assistant Head of School Libby Cowles said. “The closest thing to a new staff member is Allee McKown, who graduated last year, as an ESS (Exceptional Student Services) paraprofessional.”
McKown is the school’s first alumni hire.
The national attrition rate for charter school teachers is 20 percent, Woytek said, so having zero attrition is an accomplishment.
abutler@durangoherald.com
