During a joint work session held by the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and Pagosa Springs Town Council on Oct. 20, Archuleta School District (ASD) Superintendent Rick Holt provided information on the district’s plans for potentially building a new school to replace the current elementary and middle schools, and the two sites being considered.
Holt explained there were two items he wanted to discuss, the first being the process in which ASD is using to identify a new building and location, while asking for feedback about if the district is being transparent enough.
Holt also indicated, “We may have a couple buildings that we are interested in sharing, or moving away from and finding some way to keep those buildings in our community and functional,” indicating he wanted to have some discussion on possible joint projects.
Commissioner John Ranson explained that he attended multiple ASD Master Planning Advisory Committee (MPAC) meetings, and that he’s received “very good” feedback from the community about the district’s approach on the matter.
Holt explained the two sites the district is considering are the Vista site, located across from Veterans Memorial Park of Archuleta County, and the current high school site (on the southwest corner of the property).
Holt also indicated that the ASD board could make a decision at its next meeting scheduled for Nov. 11, in regard to which site the district will build on, explaining that the chosen architects for the project, RTA, are conducting in-depth site evaluations on the two locations.
“It’s possible that the board will have gotten enough information at that point that they would say, if we choose to move forward, we would use site ‘A’ or site ‘B’,” he said.
At the time, the next MPAC meeting was scheduled for Oct. 27.
On Oct. 24, the MPAC meeting originally scheduled for Oct. 27 was rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 in the middle school library located at 301 Lewis St.
Holt commented that, based on community surveys conducted over the summer, “people felt strongly one way or the other where that building went.”
The MPAC and ASD Board of Education have previously discussed the option of building a kindergarten through eighth-grade building to replace the current elementary and middle schools.
“And one thing I’m trying to avoid is having a public opinion tell us where that should go instead of data,” Holt said, explaining that he wants the decision to be based on facts that consider things like the traffic impact to the surrounding area.
Holt also mentioned the district will be planning to apply for a grant through the Building Excellent Schools today (BEST) program, noting that is the one “tool” the state has for providing assistance for major capital improvements for school districts.
He mentioned the program used to be “very well funded,” but over the years the state has pulled funds from the program in order to balance its budget.
“So, we’ll apply for a BEST grant,” Holt said, indicating the district would know by May 2026 if it will be awarded and that there is a possibility of having slightly less than half of the district’s project funded through that grant.
Town council member Gary Williams urged Holt and the district to consider the impact of having schools downtown and it being a “center of activity.”
Ranson asked if ASD is in a “somewhat unfavorable ranking” for the BEST grant.
“It’s an extremely competitive grant,” Holt replied, explaining that it would be “atypical” for the district to be fully awarded in its first application.
However, Holt mentioned that the district has explained its situation to the Colorado Department of Education, noting, “We have a very solid argument.”
Holt also spoke about the importance of seeing the project through, and how he expressed to the ASD board that he wants them to finish the project.
“I think Pagosa’s had a couple of cycles of the school district starting this and then abandoning it, and we’re past being able to abandon it,” he said, adding that the district needs to keep moving forward and “give the community what they’re willing to pay for.”
Commissioner Veronica Medina asked about enrollment numbers from Dulce, N.M., and if there has been a decline in recent years.
Holt explained that he recently met with Jicarilla Apache tribal council members, and that they are interested in transportation options between the two communities.
Holt indicated that this year, ASD has 131 kids identified as being from New Mexico, and 94 of those are from Dulce, N.M.
He commented that enrollment from New Mexico “hasn’t shifted that much since our transportation changed about two years ago” due to a lack of drivers and “a lot more need internally.”
Holt indicated that the Jicarilla Apache Nation is considering providing some sort of transportation resources to help supplement.
“We want to be good neighbors and we want to be good friends,” Holt said. “I want every kid to get the very best education they can possibly have. If families think that’s here, then, you know, that’s great, but we are not required to provide transportation outside our immediate attendance area.”
Holt added that until ASD gets to a point where its own needs are met, “I don’t see expanding again.”
Ranson commented on the possibility of pursuing some sort of joint venture with other entities to repurpose the current middle school and elementary school buildings.
“It sounds like there’s money out there” to do something with building, Ranson said, adding, “I’d hate to see us not collaborate.”
Holt mentioned that having a plan for the district’s old buildings, other than bulldozing them, would help with its BEST grant application.
Medina mentioned that with one of the middle school buildings being a historic building, “grant funding could be available” to restore and repurpose it with historic preservation.
Holt explained that ASD has also considered moving its administration offices into the middle school building, or moving the San Juan Mountain School there, but that it is open to other options, as well.
“We’re also interested in keeping Pagosa vibrant moving forward,” Holt said.
Town council member Leonard Martinez commented that he likes the idea of diversifying the local economy and providing ways for more young people to stay in the community, noting there is a geothermal well on the middle school property.
“And the things we do for tourists that we don’t do for ourselves,” he added, indicating there are some real “exciting” possibilities with that building the community should be exploring.
Holt explained that the district acquired the water rights for the well after previously being advised to cap it due to leaks.
Holt commented that he thought capping the well would be a “terrible way to treat a valuable community asset,” and when considering long-term, the thinking is that having the well on the property would increase the value of that place.
“We did that on purpose so that we could pass that along as an asset to our community rather than have it vanish,” he said, noting that it could also be used as a geothermal source to heat buildings or even be developed into a community pool.
“I think we can be very creative,” he added.
Holt also commented that the building has “served [its] purpose as a school building, and that time has gone,” but that it could be used for other great things going forward.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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