Durango School District Cuts Counselor Positions Amid Enrollment Decline

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Durango's Animas Valley Elementary School is losing its sole counselor, Anna Donovan, as part of a district-wide staffing reorganization driven by declining enrollment and budget constraints. Donovan, who also teaches in the classroom, faces an uncertain future as the district prioritizes 'right-sizing' staff to match student numbers, rather than preserving comprehensive student support services.

Why it matters

The loss of Donovan's counseling role exposes the tension between a district's financial pressures and its responsibility to provide critical social-emotional and mental health resources for students. As schools grapple with enrollment declines and budget cuts, the first programs to be reduced are often those focused on student wellbeing, even though these services are essential for supporting vulnerable children during formative years.

The details

Durango's brick-and-mortar schools have seen enrollment drop by 365 students over the past five years, leading the district to make $2 million in budget cuts. As part of this 'right-sizing' effort, Animas Valley Elementary is losing its sole counselor, Anna Donovan, who also teaches in the classroom. The district says social workers will continue to provide targeted support, and counselors may be reassigned to other schools, but the loss of a dedicated on-site counselor will significantly impact the school's ability to address students' social-emotional and mental health needs.

• Over the past five years, Durango's brick-and-mortar school enrollment has declined by 365 students.
• The district is required to make $2 million in budget cuts to balance its books.
• Animas Valley Elementary is losing its sole counselor, Anna Donovan, effective August 2026.

What’s next

The district says it will work to reassign counselors to other schools, but the immediate question is where Donovan and others like her will land. A private practice would forgo health insurance, and relocation within Durango limits opportunities. The broader policy question is whether districts will increasingly rely on transient, contract-based staffing models or invest in stable, well-supported roles that anchor student well-being.