D14 risks losing its unique qualities
To the editor:
My family choiced into Manitou Springs School District 14 for its focus on strong relationships, which has been Manitou’s strength for many years. However, I am concerned that our district is losing what has made it so special.
MSSD14 experienced soaring attrition rates among staffers in 2020-21 and 2021-22 and, instead of trying to find out why, our school board focused on disputing numbers the Stand Up for Manitou group compiled and assuming departures could be blamed on COVID-19 without any evidence.
The SUFM numbers were obtained directly from districts through Colorado Open Records Act requests.
The results of a third-party survey of staffers who resigned or retired as well as conversations with current teachers indicate that the culture of the district has changed. The top two reasons for staff leaving were district leadership and district culture.
Some current D14 teachers feel similarly but don’t speak out for fear of retaliation. Without a third-party survey of current staff, it is impossible to know how many more current staffers feel this way.
How many more beloved teachers will we lose to other districts as competition for teachers becomes fierce and MSSD14 loses its desirability as a workplace?
How much institutional knowledge will disappear from our district? How many families will we lose as MSSD14 becomes indistinguishable from other districts?
The survey recommends focus areas for the BOE: repairing trust between staff and district leadership, more employee involvement in decision-making, giving employees a safe place to feel heard without fear of negative consequences and a third-party survey of current staff.
Thus far, the board has failed to fulfill its duty of district oversight. Going forward, it has a responsibility to explore and respond to the survey findings so that we can retain our talented teachers and staff and restore trust in board oversight.
Anonymous parent
Who is at the wheel of District 14?
To the editor:
Manitou Springs School District 14 has lost its way.
Once steadfast in serving kids and families, now the district’s sole purpose is serving its superintendent.
To teachers: You are valued and appreciated by parents. Stand Up for Manitou was created because teachers and staff reached out for help as the district evolved into something educators didn’t subscribe to.
Stand Up for Manitou’s work on turnover data and exit surveys is focused on ensuring you are here for the long haul, and feel celebrated, motivated and respected in your work.
To parents: Ask any educator, when there is a mass exodus from a district, as in District 14’s case, more than likely it’s because of trouble at the top. Ask questions, be curious, speak up — it’s your right and your child’s education.
Teachers fear retaliation so it’s on parents to stand up for beloved staff who give so much to their students.
To taxpayers: High turnover rates present significant costs for schools and the taxpayers that fund them. The Learning Policy Institute estimates that teacher turnover costs school districts $20,000-30,000 for every teacher who leaves the district. District 14’s turnover issues are costing you, a lot.
You are getting the bill. The invoice lands in your mailbox.
To the District 14 Board of Education: Who’s at the wheel? You have been presented data that demonstrates District 14 has gone from the lowest to the highest turnover rates in El Paso County in less than three years.
You have an exit survey that points to district leadership as the No. 1 reason staff are leaving. Instead of increasing pay for paraprofessionals, District leadership is hiring public relations professionals.
When will you act? Our kids deserve better. They deserve action now.
Let’s get District 14 back on track.
Longtime friend of District 14
Editor’s note: The Bulletin ensures anonymity for letter writers who fear retaliation, but we have to know who you are. That information goes no further than the editor. The Oct. 20 Bulletin will include a story with more information from SUFM members and responses from District 14 Superintendent Elizabeth Domangue.