The Montezuma-Cortez District Accountability Committee on Monday nominated a member to the district’s mill levy oversight committee and discussed the proposed elementary reorganization.
After reviewing bylaw revisions, the DAC discussed last year’s parent engagement survey to prepare for this year’s.
While commenting the 2024 survey, the DAC noted that overall, “parents are really interested in their kids’ academics.”
They also discussed how to make the surveys accessible to all parents, including those who are not fluent in English.
Next, the DAC nominated a member to a district committee that will oversee the implementation of mill levy override funds.
Member Laura DeWitt nominated the DAC member identified as Casey for her “good attention to detail” and experience with budgeting. She was approved unanimously.
After a School Accountability Committee update, the DAC commented on the district’s proposed reorganization of the two elementary schools.
Jim Parr, executive director of student academic services, said public meetings will gather feedback, but their dates are uncertain.
The DAC expressed “lot of concerns” from teachers and parents about potential reorganization, particularly mentioning changes in teaching assignments and possible transportation issues for parents with children at different schools.
They added that they were “shocked” that the Board of Education had said they planned to vote on the reorganization this month, though there has been “little publicity” or “community input.” It is also unclear when the changes might take effect.
Parr said the configuration made sense in light of declining student enrollment.
“Things like this make sense,” Parr said.
Parr also presented pros and cons from the district’s perspective.
The long list of pros included: economic/efficiency of staffing, centralizing of GL services, teacher collaboration and teaming, teacher efficacy, focused student support, centralized ESS services, focused teacher training and support opportunities, vertical and horizontal alignment of curricular resources, focused development of language, literacy and number sense at primary levels, three to five focus on content, discipline, middle school transition, district unification, flexibility in scheduling, departmentalization options, addressing student needs flexibility, intervention time efficiency and specialized ESS programming.
Cons were staffing assignments/campus changes and transition challenges.
In response, the DAC wondered whether the reorganization could cause students to leave, sharing that the district was losing students at a faster rate than neighboring districts. One DAC parent said she would put her child in one of the charters for her “well-being.”
The DAC stressed the need for a “bigger conversation” with stakeholders, noting there has been minimal discussion. They also expressed concerns about the impacts on testing.
The next DAC meeting is Monday, April 7 at 5:30 p.m.
