NEWS

PSD growth plan: 3 new schools, $375M bond

Sarah Kyle
sarahkyle@coloradoan.com
Poudre School District hopes to build three new schools to accommodate growth.

Poudre School District staff on Tuesday will present a plan to the district's governing board that would build three new schools and seek voter approval of $375 million in bond funding plus a mill levy increase that will incrementally reach $8 million to support construction.

The 2016 Updated Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan, which was created to accommodate the needs of the growing district, will be presented to the PSD Board of Education during a meeting Tuesday evening.

The plan, which is dependent on the passage of bond and mill levy funding in the November election, includes three new schools, an athletics complex, a new transportation facility and a permanent addition to Zach Elementary School in southeast Fort Collins.

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Planned new schools include an elementary school in southeast Fort Collins and combined middle/high schools in Wellington and east of Interstate 25 at the Prospect Road and Larimer County Road 5.

If the board does not seek bond and mill levy funding, or if it is not approved by voters in November, PSD will implement an alternative growth plan. The alternative plan includes further school choice management, additional modular classrooms, boundary changes and larger class sizes.

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PSD school choice options limited due to district growth

Learn about the plan 

The 2016 Updated Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan will be presented to the Poudre School District Board of Education during its meeting Tuesday. The public meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Johannsen Support Services Center, 2407 Laporte Ave., Fort Collins.

The following public presentations will also be held: 

March 24: Wellington Middle School gym, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
March 28: Bethke Elementary School gym, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
March 30: Fossil Ridge High School roundhouse, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
April 4: Lesher Middle School auditorium, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
April 7: Fort Collins High School auditorium, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
April 11: Poudre High School roundhouse, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Coming Wednesday

Read Wednesday's Coloradoan or visit Coloradoan.com for an in-depth look at PSD's 2016 Updated Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan and proposed funding request.