The Pagosa Peak Open School (PPOS) Board of Directors held a meeting on Dec. 17, 2025, at which treasurer Pamela Meade provided the rest of the board with an update from the school’s facilities committee meeting held earlier that month on Dec. 2, 2025.
Meade began by stating, “We had a really, really good meeting.”
She explained that a couple of things brought up in the facilities committee meetings over the past two months based on student and staff surveys included the want and need for more gym space, building out the middle school portion of the existing building, and security both inside and outside of the school building.
Meade indicated that 13 out of the school’s 22 staff members responded to the survey, and responses indicated that “people wanted a gym” along with “more learning opportunity spaces.”
She also noted that people indicated they want the middle school portion to be built out, and for there to be more technology either in classrooms or in some sort of shared makers’ space.
Meade mentioned that there are also concerns and questions about security at the school.
“Things like entrances, locks,” she said, noting that a badge card key entrance system and more cameras could be installed.
Meade explained that third- through eighth-graders gave verbal responses to a survey, which indicated students want more outside play spaces.
“They feel very safe inside, but not so much outside,” she added, explaining that students also feel crowded in the lunch room and want more quiet spaces.
Meade went on to explain that some of the safety upgrades could be built into the Archuleta School District’s (ASD’s) bond measure it is discussing for next fall.
Meade also spoke about what PPOS could do with the reserves it has on hand currently, noting that some smaller projects may be possible over the summer and into the next school year.
She explained that the facilities committee also discussed options for the warehouse space in the building.
“The biggest issues with the warehouse … No. 1 is the air quality,” she said, explaining that the space would need to be reclassified and that some ceiling work is also needed. “So, that’s kind of a big expense.”
Meade noted that a significant plumbing project would also be needed to have an additional four to eight toilets installed in the area.
“Doing a whole plumbing project like that is kind of a big ask,” she said.
Meade explained that the facilities committee had started to divide its goals into two categories: building safety and security, and plans for the warehouse space.
“We got monies that are sitting there that we can use, and building out the middle school is a really good way of doing that because our goal is smaller class sizes, but more kids. To do that, we need to fix the space,” Meade said.
Board member Bill Hudson commented that the school should not count on ASD’s bond measure being approved.
“I would give it a 50-50 chance,” he said.
Meade mentioned that other various grants can also be pursued and that the school will know more about its priorities as the process moves along, “but planning for growth needs to be the priority.”
clayton@pagosasun.com
>