NEWS in 9-R

2010-11 Budget Cuts
Durango School District 9-R is facing serious budget challenges for the 2010-11 school year, as are all school districts in Colorado. Currently, we are projecting a need to cut approximately $2.9 million dollars from next year's budget. We are also being told by the State that there could be additional cuts in the 2011-2012 school year. The Durango School District 9-R Board of Education has been holding public budget work sessions as well as asking for input on the 9-R website and in suggestion boxes placed in each school throughout our district.

The results from the suggestion boxes and the budget web survey have been consolidated into two spreadsheets, which are attached below for your review. The comments have not been listed verbatim, but have been combined into "like" categories, so that the results can be more easily captured for review by the board of education, the public and staff.

We are beginning the task of getting more specific on the budget cuts that have been suggested, and would like your input as we move forward in making decisions that will be impacting everyone. The community/staff suggestions, and presentations from each of the board budget work sessions (January 12th and February 16th) can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate links below.

• Community/Staff Opinions from the Web
• Community/Staff Opinions from Suggestion Boxes
• Budget Work Session (January 12, 2010) Presentation
• Budget Work Session (February 16, 2010) Presentation

We continue to ask for our community members' opinions and suggestions regarding this critical issue. Will you please take a few minutes to let us know your thoughts by taking our survey? Your input is invaluable to us. To begin the survey, click on the link below.

• Which Budget Cuts Would You Support?

--- 9-R Board of Education and Superintendent Keith Owen

Your Opinions Are Needed For Strategy 5
Strategy 5 of the Durango School District 9-R Strategic Plan reads --- "In partnership with our families and community, we will identify and assess the character attributes that help individuals compete and contribute in society; we will mentor and model those attributes throughout our educational system." After extensive research, assessment and analysis, the Strategy 5 Team has determined ten character attributes and is now asking for the community's input. A survey has been created to determine if the ten character attributes accurately reflect what our community thinks. Will you please take a couple of minutes to complete our 11 question survey by clicking here? We value your opinions and suggestions and appreciate your input! If you have any questions, please contact Victor Figueroa, Executive Director of Student Support Services and Strategy 5 Facilitator at 970-247-5411, x1100.

ParentCONNECT is live!
ParentCONNECT is a web-based portal that enables parents or guardians to view their student’s academic progress. It allows the student and their parent to view class assignments, view attendance records, view and print grades, view and print report cards, view GPA, view announcements, send email to teachers, and receive alerts.

• Link to the ParentCONNECT portal
• ParentCONNECT Brochure

District Accountability Advisory Committee (DAAC) Parent Survey Available Now through March 5th!
Each year 9-R parents are asked for their opinions of our schools by taking a survey. In years past, the survey was sent out via mail --- this year, the survey is online. This provides a quick method for accessing the information, which will be presented to our Board of Education. Deadline to take the survey is March 5, 2010. The survey requires a password (previously provided to parents by their school). To take the survey, please click on the appropriate link below. If you do not have your password, please contact your school's administrative assistant.

• Elementary School DAAC Parent Survey
• Middle School DAAC Parent Survey
• High School DAAC Parent Survey

Strategic Plan Update Presentation Files
Attached are the presentation files for the January 7th presentation of the Strategic Plan Update.

• Strategic Plan Update PowerPoint Presentation

H1N1 Update
Click on the link below for the latest H1N1 Flu information.

• H1N1 Vaccinations

To view the Core Planning Team's PowerPoint Presentation, click here.

Video: Creating Strategic Systems for Education

• Part I
• Part II
• Part III

In the event of an emergency, school delays, or school closures, this is the area in which you will find the information on our website. If a school delay or closure is called (in the case of snow), information will be posted by 6:00 a.m. If nothing is listed, school is in session as usual.

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Reports and Forms

• Enrollment Statistics 2009-10 October Count
• Annual Report 2008-2009 (3,258 KB)
• School Improvement Plans
• 9-R Communicator
  • November 2009
• 2009-10 Student & Family Handbook (28,415 KB)
• 2009-10 Strategic Plan
  • Strategy 5 Action Team Page
• 2008-09 Preliminary Budget Report
• Athletic Physical Form
• Athletic Task Force Recommendations (1,560 KB)
• Open Enrollment Form
• Summer Academy Program Summary
• 2009-10 School Calendar
  • 2009-2010 Calendar
  • 2009-2010 InterFaith Calendar
  • 2009-2010 Parent/Teacher Conference Dates
• 2010-11 School Calendar
  
• Click here for important time-sensitive information regarding DHS's Activities & Sports
• Get the latest 9-R news updates --- sign up for 9-R eNotes!
• SchoolDude Service Requests
  • Organization Number: 797206007
• Concerns? Do you have a concern? See district policies, regulations, and complaint procedures here . . .
  • Complaint Form

District
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Monday through Fridays

Our Mission:
The mission of Durango School District 9-R, an innovative educational system committed to excellence, is to ensure each student develops the skills and attributes for lifelong learning and has the ability to compete and contribute in the global community, by guaranteeing equitable educational opportunities in a safe and healthy environment.