PSD board approves plan to build schools

Poudre School District is one step closer to seeking a $375 million bond and incremental mill levy this fall.

The district's governing board unanimously approved Tuesday a plan to build three new schools, a new transportation facility, a new athletics facility, a permanent addition to Zach Elementary School and support existing schools. Though approved, the future of the plan remains uncertain until the board decides whether to seek the associated $375 million bond.

Discussion concerning the plan centered on funding for charter schools. Some parents of charter school students have said the amount the schools are receiving from the bond is unfair. There also was additional discussion about the lack of funding for a swimming pool. But after some debate and a failed motion to add $200,000 in charter school funding, the board decided to stick with the plan as it was brought to them Tuesday.

Several board members pledged to discuss charter school funding and the concept of a district pool in the future, however.

The PSD Board of Education will vote on the bond later this year, though PSD staff said board members must decide to pursue it by Aug. 9 for the issue to be included on the November ballot. If the district does seek a bond, a crucial step remains: Getting voters within PSD's boundaries to approve the initiative.

An operational mill levy, which would increase to $8 million over four years, is also on the table.

Increasing property values within PSD's boundaries, coupled with the retirement of a former bond debt, means the current property tax rate for PSD's bond and mill levy would not increase, Dave Montoya, executive director of finance, told the Coloradoan for a previous story. The rate, 52.63 mills, equates to about $1,000 a year on a home with an actual value of $240,000.

If funding for the plan does not come through, PSD will have to implement an alternative plan to accommodate projected growth. Possible alternatives include school boundary changes, reduced school choice availability, additional modular classrooms, larger class sizes and split schedules at schools. Adding two-classroom modular units to sites cost about $200,000 per unit.

More than 29,500 students are enrolled in PSD this year, a 7.3 percent increase from the 2011-2012 school year. The district anticipates growing by another 7 percent, or nearly 2,100 students, by 2020.

The bulk of the growth is expected in communities surrounding Fort Collins, including Wellington and communities east of Interstate 25 within PSD boundaries. Poudre High School and Fossil Ridge High School, to which these communities currently feed, are at or over capacity, according to district spokeswoman Danielle Clark.

Wellington Middle School is also running out of room with a rapidly increasing population. The school has 461 students this year, a 19.7 percent increase since 2011.

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