Mancos School District 2025 MLO Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of a survey of 227 voters within the Mancos School District. The interviews were conducted from April 1st to 15th, 2025.

Voters in the Mancos School District expressed very positive overall opinions of the district and its performance. More than eight in ten held a favorable view of the district, three-quarters approved of the job it was doing educating students, and two-thirds believed the district was headed in the right direction. Reasons cited for positive direction included project-based and hands-on learning approaches, dedicated teachers and leadership, a wide range of academic, career and technical education opportunities, and a supportive, inclusive community that emphasized the whole child.

Despite strong overall approval, voters expressed concerns about academic rigor and staffing stability. Critics of the district’s direction pointed to worries about erosion of core academics, overreliance on project-based or computer-based instruction, and concerns that some graduates were underprepared for college or skilled trades. Chronic staffing challenges, including teacher turnover, difficulty attracting certified educators, and low pay, were frequently mentioned. Some respondents also raised concerns about leadership, governance, student discipline, and divisive issues that they felt distracted from learning.

Opinions about district finances reflected a mix of confidence and concern. While nearly three-quarters agreed the district was fiscally responsible and spent taxpayer money appropriately, fewer than four in ten believed the district currently had sufficient financial resources to provide students with a good education. Voters placed extremely high importance on attracting and retaining high-quality teachers, teaching basic academic subjects, maintaining a safe learning environment, and strong teacher-parent communication. Career and technical education, work-based learning, advanced coursework, and small class sizes were also rated as very important priorities.

Initial support for a proposed 10-mill override property tax ballot measure was strong. In the uninformed ballot test, more than two-thirds said they would vote to approve the measure, which was designed to raise approximately $600,000 annually to increase staff salaries, reduce turnover, and establish a citizen oversight committee. Support increased further after voters learned that the district had increased fund balances, raised salaries without prior tax increases, and still lagged behind neighboring districts in starting pay. Information about competitive disadvantages and salary gaps with surrounding districts made large majorities more likely to support the measure.

In the informed ballot test, support for the 10-mill override remained solid, with roughly two-thirds indicating they would vote yes. Voters cited the need to raise salaries to attract and retain quality teachers, protect student outcomes, and invest in the community’s long-term future as the primary reasons for support. Those opposed most often cited concerns about rising property taxes, the burden on fixed-income homeowners, skepticism about fiscal transparency, and beliefs that governance or academic issues could not be solved through additional funding alone. An alternative 8-mill option received little support among those initially opposed or undecided.

Overall, the survey showed a district with strong public goodwill, high trust in fiscal stewardship, and broad agreement on the importance of investing in teachers and educational quality. While voters remained sensitive to tax impacts and accountability, most were receptive to additional funding when paired with clear oversight, targeted use of funds, and evidence of responsible financial management. The results suggested that improving teacher compensation was widely viewed as essential to sustaining educational quality and community vitality in the Mancos School District.

In their final open-ended comments, voters reinforced themes that ran throughout the survey. Many reiterated that competitive teacher salaries were critical to retaining quality educators, but emphasized that pay increases needed to be accompanied by stronger instruction in core academic subjects and reduced staff turnover. Respondents also called for greater fiscal transparency, including audited budgets and clear accounting of how past bond funds were spent, and expressed a desire that new dollars reach classrooms rather than facilities or administrative costs perceived as unnecessary. Beyond finances, voters asked for improved communication between the district and the broader community, including public events, mailed updates, and genuine dialogue on local concerns, reflecting a desire to remain engaged and informed partners in the district’s future.