Each week we highlight some of the most insightful, passionate and witty comments shared on Facebook in response to stories in The Durango Herald.
This week, readers weighed in on Durango School District 9-R’s denial of Ascent Classical Academies’ charter application, La Plata County’s decision to exit the contract for a managed homeless camp between U.S. Highway 160 and Lightner Creek and whether bump-outs have evolved from necessity to luxury.
We enjoy readers’ input and reactions to local stories: People can weigh in by writing a letter to the editor, via our Facebook page or at the bottom of local news stories at www.durangoherald.com.
Here are a few comments that stood out this week:
“There has to be different ‘flavors’ of public schools for parents/students to chose from. I am forever thankful that BHS has Wolverine Academy. All public schools need to have more ways to teach and more options to chose from to be able to cater to individual needs. The one size fits all situation we keep clinging to is showing more and more to be unsuccessful for student, parents and the community.” – Aeron Metzger
“Aeron Metzger, Wolverine academy is not religious based though. That’s the difference. Ascent academy has been attempting to receive charter school funding with religious curriculum.” – Emily Austin
“Aeron Metzger, Durango has DHS, Elevation within DHS (like Wolverine Academy), Gateway (also within DHS), Animas, Big Picture, GOAL, and Colorado Connections. They have way more options than Bayfield. Why doesn’t Ascent go through Bayfield? More than 50-60% of the interested parties I’ve seen are based in Bayfield, not Durango.” – Lindsay Hayden
“I’m a moderate/left leaning atheist home-schooling parent. Having more educational options is a good thing in my opinion, but the classical education model is rooted in Christianity and one that tends to be exclusive and omits experiences of marginalized people. I don’t know how Ascent handles and approaches classical education specifically, as there are variations. But I didn’t see anything that convinced me they would be inclusive, when asked they were pretty vague. I think 9-R needs to explore charter options or maybe even just improve the schools we have. I support denying Ascent.” – Katrina Christensen
“9-R is spending north of $55 million on improvements to Miller Middle School (necessary) and DHS (a not necessary coffee shop and open space where no educational benefit will be derived). I’m glad to know that there is an oversight committee but if everybody is in concurrence with the proposed (over) budget than the oversight committee is not doing their due diligence. There should be some dissent on even the most agreeable of committees. Government and public school employees and boards forget they work for ‘We the People.’ Many of the families supporting the charter school are already home-schooling, they are simply looking for an alternative to help their children. This charter school has already been approved in other areas in Colorado. 9-R’s board wasted tens of thousands of dollars not even following their own policies to review Ascent Classical Academy and clearly never gave any real review to this process. It was only about dollars lost from the school district and never about the children for whom they are elected to provide support.” – Diana Blunt Snodgrass
“Shoving our problems off on someone else is not a solution. That’s just kicking the can down the road. This is a national problem. The housing market in Durango is awful, costs have skyrocketed and inflation has reduced earnings to less than pre-pandemic wages. Homelessness is a choice for some but this managed camp is not for those people. It’s for the people living in their cars, going to work everyday, while raising two little girls. The comments in this feed are exceptionally arrogant and apply to maybe 10% of the 80+ individuals who live at this camp. It is our job as citizens of this county to come up with solutions that are applicable in reality, not fantasy. Not to mention the fact that the county is spending a ton of money already dealing with the homeless. Between the law enforcement, social services, mental health services, food banks, etc., the cost to the taxpayers would be greatly reduced if these residents were able to move into a managed camp. Cities like LA, Houston, Denver, etc., have already laid out a blueprint on how to make this work. Durango residents need to step up to the plate and do their part for our community. Starting with the people who need help the most.” – Colby Wood
“Steve Smith, I agree. Some of them do work and are actually trying to improve their situation. Spending money to make the Purple Cliffs site better for camping and a safe walkable trail connection to Bodo seems reasonable. Don’t go overboard though. Don’t want it to become a magnet for more homeless to move here.” – Pat Antonio
“Yes. Make downtown a pedestrian mall. Then lease the space to those interested.” – Matt Yoder
“Matt Yoder, no way. What about all of the people that live full-time in the downtown area? We already have to fight for our own designated parking and living spaces.” – Stefie Tee
“Stefie Tee, good point! Of course a parking structure needs to be built, preferably underground. Or there could be a reserved space system for residents on Main. I’m sure a solution could be found to that issue.” – Matt Yoder
“I wonder if the Durango BID has their head in the sand? First, many business owners hate the bump-outs. They take away from the historic look of the town. Second, I get the issue with restaurants needing better seating but why does Maria’s need a bump out? Why Outdoorsy...the rug place? They’re just taking parking spots which leads me to my third point. Parking has been effected adversely. We avoid downtown. For those who struggle to walk it’s a huge problem.” – Betsy Shryock Kastak
