Durango School District has begun announcing staffing changes – including layoffs, reassignments and non-renewals for employment – amid declining enrollment and budget challenges.
The district declined to provide details, saying administrators are still notifying staff members and other changes remain in flux.
The district declined to say how many employees have already been laid off or how many positions will be impacted in the near term. The changes affect a range of positions, including administrative and support staff, said Karla Sluis, spokeswoman for the district, in an email to The Durango Herald.
“Because staffing processes are still unfolding and involve individual personnel matters, we are not sharing specific numbers at this time,” she said. “Our priority is ensuring employees receive information about their positions directly from the district before details appear publicly. Some locations will need fewer staff next year, while others will need to hire. At this time, we are still working through those adjustments.”
Sources close to the district, who requested anonymity, said at least 10 employees are being laid off from Durango High School alone, but exact numbers at DHS and districtwide could not be confirmed.
Durango School District declined to verify the total number of layoffs at DHS, saying “we are not releasing specific counts by building.”
The district said the staffing adjustments will take effect for the 2026-27 school year but declined to share specific, individual personnel dates “to protect the privacy of employees during these transitions.”
We want to hear from you
Have you been laid off, reassigned or impacted in some other way by Durango School District’s staff changes? We’d like to hear from you. Please call Herald Staff Writer Elizabeth Pond at 375-4512 or email her at epond@durangoherald.com. Let us know in advance if you’re requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
Superintendent Karen Cheser said losing a job is “incredibly difficult,” and staffing changes have not been made lightly.
“We understand that staffing changes can be deeply personal and emotional,” she said in a written statement to the Herald. “Our focus throughout this process has been supporting employees while making responsible decisions for the long-term stability of the district.”
The changes are being made amid the district’s “toughest budget year in recent memory,” Sluis said. The district has lost 365 students in the past five years, which has contributed to the financial struggles, she said. The district receives funding on a per-pupil basis.
“Approximately $2 million in reductions (are) needed to bring expenses in line with revenue,” she said. “Rising costs for everyday operations have significantly outpaced limited state funding increases, and declining enrollment has compounded the challenge. Reductions in federal funding have also added pressure.”
Sluis said there may be opportunities for staff members whose jobs are impacted by the changes to seek reassignment in other district roles.
“When staff changes occur due to enrollment or budget adjustments, employees are encouraged to apply for other open roles within the district,” she said. “We work to support employees through that process whenever possible.”
Over the past year, the district has reduced department budgets by 10% and school budgets by 5% in an effort to offset the district’s financial struggles, Sluis said. But about 87% of the district’s budget is dedicated to employee compensation, meaning staff numbers are directly impacted by financial struggles like this one.
“Like families and businesses facing tighter budgets, school districts must sometimes make difficult adjustments to live within our means while continuing to serve students well,” she said. “Even with these steps, the district is facing a significant budget gap that cannot be solved through reserves alone.”
In November 2024, voters passed a $150 million Investing in Our Schools Bond measure aimed at improving district schools, enhancing facilities, increasing safety and bolstering learning environments for students.
But those funds cannot be used for salaries, raises or the district’s day-to day operating budget, Sluis said. Bond funds can only be used for buildings, safety improvements and major facility projects.
A family member of an employee told the Herald that two employees in Spanish language interpreting have been laid off, reportedly because the number of Spanish-speaking students is declining.
Sluis said none of the staff changes are linked to the decline of any specific demographic group.
“We will continue to provide extensive language interpretation services and support for Spanish-speaking families and students through our Multi-Lingual Learner program,” she said. “... The district is right-sizing positions based on overall enrollment changes across the district over the past five years.”
At a Feb. 10 La Plata Economic Development Alliance investor member meeting, Cheser said the district has lost 160 students so far this year.
“Many decided to leave the country – I’ll leave it there,” she said during the meeting.
Merin Porter, a communications specialist for the district, said in an email to the Herald that the district is giving advanced notice to staff members whose roles will be impacted by the staff changes.
“While these employees continue to serve our students through the end of their current contracts (typically through May or June), we believe providing notice now is the most supportive path forward,” Porter said. “... While some administrative or support shifts may happen sooner, the primary ‘right-sizing’ of our staff is focused on the upcoming school year.”
Porter said the district’s primary strategy for managing the $2 million budget gap has so far been “natural attrition” through choosing not to backfill roles when staff members retire or resign.
Sluis said some employee positions were supported through federal Title I funding, which has been reduced in recent years. Title 1 funds support schools with high concentrations of low-income, disadvantaged and at-risk students. One allowed use of Title 1 funds is to hire additional teachers, paraprofessionals and specialists.
Cheser said there is no easy path through a budget deficit caused by enrollment decline.
“Our focus is on making thoughtful, transparent decisions that keep the district financially stable while continuing to provide a strong educational experience for students and families,” she said.
epond@durangoherald.com
