At its June 3 meeting, the Archuleta School District (ASD) Board of Education heard potential projects for Pagosa Peak Open School (PPOS) to consider as ASD determines if it will go to the ballot for a bond measure to help fund a new school building and what other district projects could be included in a bond.
PPOS is chartered by ASD, and the school put together the list of potential projects at the request of ASD.
PPOS School Director Emily Murphy presented the PPOS bond proposal to the BOE.
She began by thanking the BOE for considering PPOS facility enhancements in its bond considerations.
“We believe that by including PPOS facility upgrades in your measure, we’re ensuring that taxpayers dollars are fully being utilized to serve all students in the district,” Murphy said.
Murphy explained PPOS used three stakeholder groups — staff, students and families — to look at needs, barriers and desires within the PPOS facility.
She noted the school currently uses and old auditorium with a slanted floor as a gymnasium.
The facilities committee then looked at three levels of asks, she noted, explaining much of it involves using the warehouse space — which is currently rented out and not available to student use due to code requirements.
She noted that would require a change of use and associated improvements relating to mechanical, electrical, lighting and bathrooms.
That would be an investment of about $1 million, and would unlock PPOS’s entire building for K-8 education, according to Murphy’s presentation.
The level-two ask outlined by Murphy would total $1.7 million and would include the warehouse activation as well as “critical system updates to maintain a healthy learning environment” in the existing 28,000-square-foot school building, according to the presentation.
That, she explained to the board, would include a complete HVAC fan coil replacement at a cost of around $630,000.
The level-three ask would include the warehouse activation, the HVAC investment and would address the school’s electrical capacity.
She noted the electrical capacity is bottlenecked since the building was built as an office, not a school with hundreds of students.
She noted multiple people have suggested adding a solar photovoltaic system to the roof.
The full investment for level three would be $2 million, according to Murphy.
Murphy noted the school’s October count two years ago was 106, with 129 last year and a current enrollment of 148 for next year.
She noted the school is retaining more middle school students, which shows an increased need for things like science labs and sports areas.
Murphy’s presentation notes that the warehouse conversion would create a gymnasium space to support physical education and large-group assemblies.
Murphy noted that the warehouse space has pillars that cannot be removed, and it can be broken up into multiple spaces for project-based learning like makerspaces, discovery labs and art studios.
Murphy also gave the BOE a cost breakdown.
“Those are really good, really thoughtful,” BOE president Bob Lynch said.
BOE member Tim Taylor suggested being mindful of not duplicating things between PPOS and the regional workforce center that’s slated to be built.
Murphy noted that having science labs is “critical” to pushing the school’s model forward, noting currently experiments have to be small and take place outside.
Lynch noted PPOS was very reasonable with its ask and the projects would be included in polling for the potential bond measure.
The topic of a potential ASD bond measure also surfaced at the June 10 PPOS Board of Directors meeting, where board member Bill Hudson proposed a resolution urging the ASD board to consider an alternative ballot measure this November.
A motion made by Hudson to approve the ballot measure died for lack of a second, with board member Lawrence Rugar ultimately seconding a motion to allow for discussion “so it’s done.”
Hudson explained to the board he had represented himself during public comment at ASD’s June 3 meeting, where he discussed the economy and suggested he had an alternative idea if the BOE members would be interested in hearing about it.
He noted all five BOE members had responded with interest in hearing about the alternative.
He explained that, as of the meeting, he had already met with BOE member Butch Mackey, whom he reported agreed with him on a lot but who didn’t feel good about the alternative idea for the project $126 million building to house preschool through eighth grade.
Hudson then explained he’d created the resolution for ASD to consider an increase to its mill levy override (MLO) instead of a large debt.
He then suggested if the idea came from the PPOS board, PPOS could be more likely to see financial gain from it since district voters have already approved an MLO twice.
He indicated the resolution is not a suggestion ASD doesn’t need a facility or that it’s in the wrong place, but that, according to a Gallup poll, 55 percent of respondents believe their financial situation is worsening.
He suggested they would be up for failure if they support the school district going for $150 million in November.
In response to a question from Rugar, Hudson suggested the funding generated could be used for repairs and upgrades.
Board member Pamela Meade noted PPOS had put forward its plan to the BOE.
Murphy explained PPOS has received “tremendous support” from ASD and suggested a vote would be a statement about ASD’s process.
“It would be a statement against our relationship,” she said, adding PPOS doesn’t have the right to interfere and it would be destructive to the relationship.
Hudson asked if it would change feelings knowing all five BOE members were interested in hearing Hudson’s idea.
Meade clarified they didn’t ask PPOS, and Murphy noted if they asked to present for PPOS, she would, but “that’s not what’s happening here.
Meade further noted she doesn’t see a risk of ASD not including PPOS in seeking additional funding from voters.
Hudson noted he would keep putting his idea forward, and board president Jesse White called the matter closed.
randi@pagosasun.com
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