After reading articles (Herald, May 4, Herald, May 6) on the salary negotiations between Durango School District 9-R and its employee associations, I understand the frustration on both sides.
Our public education system’s problem is that the Durango area cost of living is high and funding per pupil is lower than in most other states. This makes it a challenge to attract and maintain employees. I have taught second grade through graduate school and have been a school board member or on the Finance Advisory Committee for 13 years and have been privy to the negotiations between the district and associations over the years.
I’m impressed with how the district team tries to adhere to the interest-based process Laura Galido described in the May 6 article. I’ve always seen both teams trying to produce a win-win salary schedule. The district is also working to mitigate high costs by developing staff housing.
A win-win will be difficult with potentially declining revenue as all costs rise, not just labor. However, using the fund balance to pay operating expenses is not sustainable. The article cites the district’s concern with maintaining the fund to get attractive credit benefits. There are worse problems with tapping the fund balance.
Any fund-enabled operating expense will need to be cut when the funding is gone. Also using the fund balance leaves no cushion for the inevitable bad day. During the 2008 recession, using the fund balance protected Durango School District 9-R students from the problems other Colorado districts had with closing classrooms and cutting school hours.
Mick Souder, Member, Durango School District 9-R, Finance Advisory Committee
Durango
