The Montezuma-Cortez District Accountability Committee members have been selected for the 2025–26 school year, following a notice that the DAC would be changed to reflect state standards.
The appointment of new members, required by Colorado Revised Statutes 22-11-301 and 22-11-302, ensures representation from parents, educators, administrators and community members. The committee advises the district on budget priorities, school improvement plans, overall performance and more, according to documents provided to The Journal by Executive Director of Academic Services Justin Schmitt.
The DAC includes parent representatives from each School Accountability Committee, along with a teacher, an administrator, a business community member, a nonparent community member and a Native American representative.
Appointed members for 2025-26 are:
- Alisha Moon, Beech Street Preschool parent.
- Stephen Candelaria, Lewis-Arriola parent.
- Tomi Stafford, Kemper parent.
- Angelica Melko, Mesa parent.
- Torrey Palmer, Montezuma-Cortez Middle School parent.
- Kristi Hall, Montezuma-Cortez High School parent.
- Emilee Griese, Southwest Open School charter parent.
- David Snee, teacher.
- Jennifer Boniface, school administrator.
- Cody Wells, business representative.
- Allen Maez, community representative.
- Flaydina Knight, Native American parent.
Charter school parent representatives rotate annually. This year’s representative is from Southwest Open School.
The committee advises on fiscal priorities, reviews the district’s Unified Improvement Plan, provides input on charter school applications and promotes parent engagement.
The DAC also monitors district leadership and infrastructure to support improvement plans. Each year, the committee submits recommendations based on whether the district and schools are classified as Performance, Improvement, Priority Improvement or Turnaround. It may also provide input on evaluation tools for teachers and principals.
The DAC’s schedule shows meetings on Mondays on Dec. 1, March 2 and May 4, replacing the previous monthly meeting format. The first meeting was Oct. 6.
The restructuring of the DAC was 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.
“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.
DeWitt, who is now a candidate for the RE-1 Board of Education, said the district had not created a position for a proposed family engagement liaison, despite parent volunteers submitting sample descriptions in January. She said the DAC was 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.
She also raised concerns about representation and committee independence. The new structure includes members from each school, but DeWitt noted that the DAC’s original bylaws included a seat for each School Accountability Committee – a provision the school board has since removed.
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.”
Burris has announced that he is resigning. He gave the board 60 days to find a replacement but said he will stay until July 2026, when his contract ends, if needed.
