The Montezuma-Cortez School District is restructuring its District Accountability Committee, a move that will effectively “dissolve” the current DAC. The district says the change aligns with Colorado Department of Education requirements for DAC and School Accountability Committee structures.
The change was first disclosed at the school board’s August meeting. During public comment, a DAC representative said a letter from Board President Sheri Noyes and Superintendent Tom Burris had been sent to the DAC, but details about the new committee structure were not shared in advance.
In an email to the DAC, member Laura DeWitt outlined the changes and the district’s rationale. She expressed frustration with both the changes and how they were handled.
Because of the restructuring, DeWitt said, the DAC’s meeting agenda was not distributed as usual, and the group was denied access to its regular meeting room, despite a written request.
“Recently, the district announced ‘changes in the membership composition’ of the DAC. While framed as compliance with state requirements, the effect has been to dissolve the current committee in practice,” DeWitt said in her letter. “Our scheduled meeting was not supported with the usual agenda distribution or room access, despite specific written request. The reasons provided for these changes are puzzling and do not align with the record.”
DeWitt listed the district’s stated reasons for the change.
The district reportedly said no position had been created for a proposed family engagement liaison, though parent volunteers submitted sample descriptions in January 2024. The DAC was also asked to shift its focus from family engagement to student outcomes.
“It was suggested that the DAC should shift its focus. But research and state guidance are clear that family engagement is a direct driver of improved student outcomes. Our surveys, reports and forums are student-centered by design,” DeWitt said.
Other reasons involved representation and committee independence. The new structure will include members from each school, but DeWitt noted that the DAC’s original bylaws included a seat for each SAC – a provision the school board has since removed.
“Over the past four years, the committee has evolved from a small, district-led group into a forum for meaningful stakeholder dialogue,” DeWitt said. “We worked to support school-level accountability committees, encourage parent participation and strengthen connections between schools and families, although progress was often hindered by circumstances outside our control.”
Under state law, DACs must recommend district spending priorities, advise on performance or improvement plans, review charter school applications and renewals upon request, and annually agree with the board on study areas. They also advise on teacher evaluation tools, consult on federally funded activities, publicize service opportunities, assist with parent engagement policies and support family involvement in student plans.
SACs advise principals on spending priorities, including federal funds; recommend improvement strategies; publicize hearings; and meet quarterly to assess plan implementation and accreditation progress. They also advise on principal development, promote service opportunities and support parent engagement at the school level.
“These changes were not developed through a collaborative process with the committee’s co-chairs or members, and they do not reflect the consensus of those who have been doing this work,” DeWitt said. “While the stated goal is to align with state requirements, the changes directly contradict validated recommendations from the Colorado Department of Education on family engagement. CDE stresses collaboration and shared leadership as essential for improving outcomes for students.”
When asked about the changes, Burris told The Journal, “In our effort to get more involvement in the DAC and the SAC, we are asking the SAC groups to include one of their members into the DAC. We certainly may have individuals who are on the SAC and the DAC who will be selected by their peers to continue their service.”
He also shared state guidelines for DACs and SACs, according to the Colorado Department of Education.
