Courtesy of Manitou Springs School District 14
On Nov. 2, voters rejected the Manitou Springs School District’s proposed bond package, and in doing so, voters forfeited $9 million in Building Excellent Schools Today grant funding from the Colorado Department of Education.
The BEST funding would have contributed to new and remodeled middle school/high school campus facilities (including addressing Americans with Disabilities Act issues), roof improvements at two schools and safe entryways in all schools.
With the bond package rejection, MSSD will continue to lack the necessary funding to address deferred maintenance concerns and safety and security issues throughout the district. In addition, constructing modern learning spaces remains on hold.
“In 2022, our district will be 150 years old,” said Elizabeth Domangue, MSSD superintendent. “With aging schools and Manitou Springs Elementary School turning 100 next year, there is a tremendous responsibility to make the required and necessary repairs, renovations and improvements.”
The district has been unable to address the facility projects it proposed in the bond within its operating budget, due in part to the state’s budget stabilization factor. That has resulted in $16 million in lost funding for MSSD over the past 11 years.
What’s next for the district?
“We will go back to the drawing board,” said Tina Vidovich, MSSD board of education president.
“Our facility issues aren’t going away, and they won’t get any cheaper as construction costs escalate. In reality, we will be able to get less accomplished for more money in the future.”
In 2022, MSSD will seek again to understand the community’s vision for preparing the district and its schools to serve students for the next 25 years and beyond.
The district is tentatively planning to participate in the BEST funding application process in 2022 or 2023. Any funding awarded at that time would require matching funds to be generated through a successful bond.
“The outcome of the bond issue does not change our current capital realities,” Domangue said. “However, I want to assure our community that, in MSSD, we remain committed to our mission of providing safe and caring learning environments, encouraging all students to reach their potential and preparing responsible citizens.
“It is important to reflect on this outcome through the same lens that we teach our students to look through when it comes to the failures they experience. Through failure, we can ponder, analyze and identify mistakes while also examining where to improve,” she added.
“Just as it does for our students, I am confident that reflecting on this process will strengthen us as a district and contribute to our future success.”
Bond funding would have allowed the district to aggressively tackle much-needed facility maintenance and improvement projects at all schools. Moving forward, the district will prioritize projects critical to the safety of our students and staff.
The district is grateful to everyone who served on the District Accountability Committee’s subcommittee and the Master Plan Visioning Team and to those who attended school and community engagement meetings along the way.
This collaboration and meaningful work was not in vain.