By William J. Dagendesh
A presentation of the Manitou Springs School District 14 Long-Range Facilities Master Plan dominated the Dec. 1 Board of Education work session.
Colorado Springs-based RTA Architects provided a master plan update highlighting district building strengths and weaknesses from safety and security opportunities to foundation replacements and mechanical upgrades.
In fall 2020, D14 partnered with an architect team to develop a LRFMP. The document describes MSSD’s vision for classroom and buildings, defines needs and guides planning and improvements. The BOE joined three other teams — executive, visioning and master planning — to analyze existing facility conditions, demographics and enrollment forecasts, educational adequacy and district bonding capacity.
In October 2020, the BOE participated in a special work session to provide preliminary information feedback. Based on committee and community input, plans for MSSD evolved, and updated site concepts were presented to the BOE and community in January 2021.
The next month, the BOE approved a resolution declaring support for the Building Excellent Schools Today grant submissions to the Colorado Department of Education Public School Capital Construction Assistance Board.
In November 2021, Manitou residents voted against ballot issue 4C, declining to approve a $43 million bond for improvements to the district’s aging infrastructure. Part of the money requested in the bond was required as matching funds to secure a $9 million BEST grant.
D14 is trying again to earn one of the prestigious grants.
“We’ve collected data and are working on the BEST grant projects for roof replacements and mechanical upgrades at both elementary schools. After the holidays, we will explore options about the middle school,” said RTA Architects Principal Doug Abernethy.
He said a spot analysis on the existing buildings shows a strong connection between the community and schools, and a dedicated, professional staff. Location is another strength; the surrounding hillsides are unique to the district. Parent involvement also is a plus as they and student guardians have invested in the schools.
“Also, you’re whole child-focused — you’re looking not only at educational needs, but also safety, belonging and self-esteem,” Abernethy said.
Weaknesses include aging buildings and technology. Deferred maintenance is another weakness as older buildings are difficult to maintain and monitor, and the topography and age of existing buildings challenges accessibility.
Funding is a weakness because of the number of students who “choice” in from outside the district, which challenges bond capacity and current debt. However, safety and security, increased/improved academic spaces, and improving outdoor spaces for year-round opportunities for community and school use are some of the opportunities offered.
“One thing we talked about as a group was rumors and misinformation, and how we’re going to communicate effectively with you as a board, the school and externally to the community. We make sure words are transparent, that we’re providing necessary information to support the community so they understand what we’re doing as a group,” said RTA Architects Principal Ken Gregg.
A middle school floor plan was displayed and highlighted existing building conditions.
“We’ve taken the floor plans you had and modeled these buildings. We try to understand what uses are going on in the buildings so we can understand building capacities,” Abernethy said.
Building conditions for the 2020 master plan showed building movement, site erosion cleanup, drainage pathways, and repair and stabilization. Re-roofing the buildings, replacing windows and doors, interior finishes and casework, and providing fire sprinkler and voice alarm systems also figured in the plan.
RTA Architects will explore multiple solutions and provide feedback to the board. RTA Architects hope to complete the master plan by spring 2023.
During her compensation update report, Chief Financial Officer Suzi Thompson said most staffers will get a $1,000 bonus in their next paycheck. Currently, the General Fund salary and benefit accounts are $307,582 below budget for this time of the year.
Thompson’s year-end projection is a salary and benefit savings of about $800,000.
The BOE approved a 7 percent pay increase during the budget adoption in June, decided to evaluate in the fall and, if possible, increase compensation before Winter Break.
According to Thompson, an overall increase would be an ongoing increase to the bottom line and the salary savings right now is one-time available money.
“So my proposal is a one-time payment to all staff of $1,000 on December paychecks pro-rated based on the start date,” Thompson said.
Although most staffers will receive the full bonus, the district still wants to recognize those currently working for the district.
All staff members who were working by the first day of school, Aug. 19, will receive the full $1,000, and anyone employed by Sept. 1 will receive $750. Anyone employed by Oct. 1 will get $500, and anyone employed by Nov. 1 will receive $250.
Vacant positions and lower-than-expected substitute costs contributed to the savings, and retirement and turnover savings was larger than budgeted.
“So, we’re seeing a significant savings, a little over $300,000,” Thompson said.
“Typically, these type of payments are not PERA (Public Employees’ Retirement Association) includable, so we would only have to pay Medicare (1.45 percent) on this, costing the district a maximum of $245,575,” Thompson said.
PERA is a substitute for Social Security for many public employees. Benefits are pre-funded, which means that, while members are working, they are required to contribute a fixed percentage of their salary to the retirement trust funds. PERA provides retirement and other benefits to employees of more than 500 government agencies and public entities in Colorado.
The board’s next regular meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, in the Manitou Springs High School Media Center.