On Monday, Dec. 8, the Archuleta School District (ASD) Board of Education (BoE) held a staff listening session in regard to the district’s plans to build a new kindergarten through eighth-grade school at either the high school campus site downtown or the Vista Boulevard site uptown near Veterans Memorial Park.
The BoE previously held a community listening session on the topic on Dec. 2, at which multiple community members provided input on the district’s plans.
For more information on the at meeting, see the article “Community members voice opinions on proposed new school sites” in the Dec. 4 issue of The SUN.
During the Dec. 8 listening session, BoE president Bob Lynch explained that the district hired engineers, architects and surveyors to provide the board with analysis of the two proposed sites.
“They have not made a recommendation,” Lynch said, explaining they have presented facts for the board to consider.
“We know the voters ultimately decide,” Lynch added, noting that the board has to decide what to put before the voters.
ASD Superintendent Rick Holt provided information on what the district has done over the past year by holding community meetings, Master Plan Advisory Committee (MPAC) meetings and conducting a community poll.
Holt also reviewed the seven criteria the BoE is using for evaluating suggested options during the facilities master plan process. Those criteria include: safety and security, fiscally responsible, high-quality learning environments, flexibility of facilities to accommodate future needs, supported by the community, aligns with district mission/goals/outcomes, and supports a broad range of student activities and needs.
Holt also explained that the district intends to apply for a Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant, which could provide up to 45 percent of funds for the district’s project.
“That’s a real big win if you can get a BEST grant,” Holt said.
The initial total cost for building a new K-8 school was around $123 million, Holt noted, explaining that, based on responses from the community poll, about 50 percent responded they would be willing to approve a bond for that amount.
Holt noted that that percentage went up when presented with information on the BEST grant, which if awarded would bring down the total bond put before voters.
“One interesting thing that came out of that survey is that people have strong opinions about the location,” Holt said, explaining the community poll asked if people would be more supportive of one location over the other.
“For me it was a big eye-opener how much this decision was gonna be based on opinion and fact,” Holt said, explaining he initially thought by pulling all the facts together that would guide a decision. “That’s not the case. People have a lot of heart behind their decision and they feel strongly about that, so the board again said, very wisely, ‘We should listen to people.’”
Holt explained a site analysis of the locations that included things such as drainage reports, topography, initial traffic evaluation and natural resources in order to provide some basis for decision making.
He also explained that two options for building on the high school site have been presented, with one having the building placed into the hillside and the other placing the building on top of existing ballfields within the existing school loop road.
Holt explained that when reviewing a comparison matrix compiled by engineers, the Vista site appeared to be the more viable site at first.
He mentioned the high school campus site has “two big struggles” with a wetland in the building area and the slope of the property.
“That led to the board saying, ‘Is that really the best spot on the high school property for that building?” Holt said, explaining that a new proposal was developed placing the K-8 building on the existing ballfields and reducing the additional building cost for that location. “The new site started to look a lot like Vista when it came to the numbers.”
The original proposed high school site came with a projected additional cost of $12 million to $18 million, while the alternate high school site has a projected additional building cost of $7 million to $ 11 million, compared to the Vista site with a projected additional building cost of $6 million to $9 million.
ASD paraprofessional Joe Lister was the first to provide comment, encouraging the district to account for meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements in designing the new school.
“If we just take care of our handicap, then we’re taking care of everybody else in between,” Lister said.
High school social studies teacher Holly Blackman commented that upgrades to current facilities may be included in the bond amount, noting that “cutting corners were done perhaps years ago when some of these current facilities were built.”
Blackman went on to provide examples of corners that were cut when the high school was built, explaining that not all classrooms have adequate ventilation or temperature control.
She explained that she had been collecting temperature data three times a day for three months and found that her classroom ranges in temperature from 69 degrees in the morning to 90 degrees in the afternoon.
Blackman noted she uses fans and air conditioning units, but that those cause a distraction in the classroom.
“There is no immediate help,” she said.
Blackman also explained that she has wasps in her classroom daily, claiming they are coming out of the ceiling vents.
“In our library, there are tons of [wasps] in our windows,” she added.
Blackman closed her comments by expressing that the community has the ability to plan for growth with a new K-8 school, but also wants the district to improve the high school.
Lynch noted that there is a list with “other items” being compiled that the district will be consider with its bond.
Scott White, a middle school coach and San Juan Mountain School social studies teacher, commented on the available playable space for kids, speaking against the alternate high school site option that would place the building on existing ballfields.
Pagosa Springs Middle School Principal Josh Sanchez commented that “safety must remain the top priority” while acknowledging the potential benefits of having all of the district’s students on one campus.
“I also have significant safety concerns about concentrating our entire student population in a single location,” he said.
Sanchez noted that historically the district’s safety plans have relied on the availability of its other school sites.
“And that flexibility would be greatly reduced with a single mega-campus,” he added.
Sanchez went on to explain that the middle school has operated without the space it needs for decades, relying on the generosity of other agencies to host athletics and physical education classes.
“And while those partnerships have allowed us to get by, they’ve also forced our staff and students into constant compromise. Whenever another entity needs the space, our plans change … and each time that happens, the quality of their experience is diminished,” he said.
Sanchez spoke in support of the district building at the Vista site.
“The Vista site is a chance to build a learning environment that honors our students’ needs first,” he said, explaining there is an opportunity to provide reliable, dedicated space students and teachers need. “This is the kind of long-term investment that transforms a school experience for generations.”
He explained that choosing the high school site would be choosing ongoing scarcity by asking multiple schools and programs to compete for limited space during the busiest times of the year.
“Yes, the Town of Pagosa Springs has been a wonderful partner, but relying on them means our students’ access will always be determined by someone else’s priorities,” he said, stating the Vista site will provide something the district has never truly had: autonomy, consistency and space for high-quality learning spaces students deserve. “This is the opportunity to correct decades of limitations and finally provide our middle schoolers with the facilities they should have had all along.”
Pagosa Springs High School Principal Sean O’Donnell also expressed concern over field space, noting that the alternate high school option taking away ballfields could cause difficulty with multiple sports teams needing practice space.
“I do think that after-school programming, especially in the fall, could be tricky,” he said.
O’Donnell expressed concern over the amount of traffic that would be generated with the high school location.
“I have a really hard time wrapping my head around the volume of folks driving down 8th Street and Hot Springs Boulevard,” he said.
ASD Gifted and Talented Coordinator Carrie Steadman explained that she works at each of the district’s schools, stating that students thrive by utilizing “place-based learning,” such as on the river or Reservoir Hill.
Steadman also commented on the importance of kids being able to access the library for after-school programs or simply as a safe space after school.
“I definitely have a lot of kids that depend on the library,” she said, questioning what safe spaces would be available for students uptown.
High school art teacher Kelly Lewis spoke in support of keeping the K-8 school downtown, noting that it is “infinitely easier” with dropping off kids in different grades.
Lewis also mentioned that having schools close together allows for more collaboration opportunities between students in different grades.
Lewis also commented on the temperature control issues at the high school, stating, “Having a way to regulate temperature in my room would be awesome.”
High school English teacher Darcy DeGuise explained that she attended every MPAC meeting.
“I care a lot about what happens in this school district,” she said.
DeGuise explained that she lives downtown and that, initially, she wanted the K-8 school to be downtown.
She explained that the majority of ASD students live uptown or in Aspen Springs, and that the town is planning to build a new wastewater treatment facility near the high school campus location.
DeGuise also asked if another site evaluation was performed for the alternate high school proposal of putting the building on top of existing ballfields and posed questions to the board about where funds would come from to cover the additional building costs associated with either site.
Lynch asked DeGuise if she was “leaning” toward one location or the other.
DeGuise indicated that she was mostly struggling with the board’s goal of providing a high-quality learning environment, explaining the more she thought about it, building at the high school site that would mean disrupting quality learning environments for students.
DeGuise went on to state that building at the Vista location is more fiscally responsible while also providing more space.
Two more coaches also spoke about field space concerns and the need for an additional track.
Pagosa Springs Elementary School Principal Kelly Vining commented that one of her biggest concerns currently with the elementary school is the traffic loop.
Vining noted that people are concerned about the school moving uptown, but also noted that many students would be able to walk or bike to school with the Vista location.
Vining also acknowledged the concern of safe places for students to go after school.
“I also do believe that if we build it, they will come,” she said, indicating that if the school is built uptown, that may spur other developments and resources for kids could be moved uptown.
San Juan Mountain School Principal Stewart Bellina suggested that if the school is built uptown that a bus program to shuttle kids downtown for after-school programs could be an option.
Bellina also noted that the alternate option for the high school would take away all adult softball field space.
BoE meeting
The following day, Tuesday, Dec. 9, the BoE held its regular meeting, at which more the board received more public comment.
Elly Heitkamp commented with concerns over the proposed designs for the high school site, stating that using the same design for the Vista site “does not feel fair.”
“I feel like you still have some work in front of you to present something that is really concrete,” she added.
Heitkamp also commented on the community poll, indicating that 50 percent of respondents chose the high school site as more favorable, while 28 percent responded that it made no difference and 21 percent voted for the Vista site.
“So, if we’re going to the polls and asking for a bond, I feel it is in the best interest to pick the site that is projected to win,” she said.
The next commenter spoke in favor of the downtown location, stating that no crime statistics for either site have been reviewed or shared.
“Through a student-centered lens, the downtown site clearly stands out,” she said, explaining it builds on existing infrastructure, minimizes travel burdens and supports younger siblings.
She noted that downtown supports local businesses and provides independence for middle school students.
Pagosa Springs Parks and Recreation Director Darren Lewis commented that his children who’ve been through the school system all preferred keeping the school downtown.
“The importance of having … the school downtown is the investment and the amenities that’s been put in downtown for our children,” he said, stating the investments will continue to be put in.
Darren Lewis also commented on the trail system in the Vista area, explaining that there are no destinations for students.
He then commented from a parks and recreation standpoint, saying, “Don’t let those three ballfields that you guys don’t use … should have no part of your decision … and how that’s gonna affect the Town of Pagosa Springs.”
He added, “That’s my job to figure out once your guys’ decision is made.”
Bill Hudson commented next, explaining that MPAC received a detailed analysis of immediate repairs needed in the district at its meeting in January, noting that urgent needs at the elementary school were estimated around $19 million.
“Amazing amount of repairs that are needed at the elementary school, according to this document,” he said, explaining that now almost a year later the district does not know if the estimate it received includes athletic fields or not.
Hudson explained that after analyzing the chart of immediate repairs and costs, he was able to bring the cost down closer to $9 million.
“It was less than half of what they told us it would cost. I don’t think you can trust this architect firm to give you the right numbers. I think these numbers are inflated, and I think you need to get a second opinion from a different architect’s firm before you move ahead and put something in front of our community that is badly budgeted,” Hudson said.
Lynch commented that the BoE is really just getting started on deliberating and will be over the next month, at least, on its decision.
Later in the meeting, the BoE further discussed the district’s master plan, with Holt explaining that he spoke with the architects to determine what is included in the cost projections.
Holt explained that the original proposed high school site design dollar amount includes a 140,000-square-foot building with a two-story academic wing, two full-size gyms, pick-up and drop-off areas, lane improvements, playground areas and some off-site upgrades.
“Any upgrades to any of the fields” was not included, he indicated, explaining that what is assumed is that the middle school would be accessing fields at the high school.
Holt also noted that the K-8 school will be almost twice the size of the current high school.
Lynch explained that the BoE asked for an analysis of another option and will be pushing to nail down the unknowns compared to the other sites.
Holt explained that the cost estimated for the Vista site does not include costs associated with upgrading the intersection of U.S. 160 and Vista Boulevard.
BoE member Amanda Schick commented that she needs the public to understand this is the setting the board is having discussions in with regard to choosing a site.
She explained that the BoE is not calling executive sessions or having private conversations on the matter.
“This is where we are receiving this information, and literally we are hearing it just as you are hearing it,” she said.
Lynch commented that one thing coming from the public the board could consider is if there are different building layout options for each potential site.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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