District 49 proposes Falcon-area reconfiguration; board approves exploring implementation steps

Superintendent Brian Smith and Falcon‑zone leaders on Sept. 24 laid out a plan to address low enrollment and facility constraints in the district’s Falcon area, recommending temporary co‑location of two smaller elementary schools and beginning long‑range planning for a new PreK‑8 campus.

The board voted with no objections to authorize initial implementation steps and to explore alternatives that would allow Falcon Elementary and Bennett Ranch Elementary to operate in shared space at the Bennett Ranch facility while the district plans and seeks funding for a new Falcon PreK‑8 on the eastern edge of District 49.

Superintendent Smith told the board that Falcon‑zone enrollment growth has lagged other areas and that housing costs and changing demographics have reduced new family moves into the zone. “We’ve budgeted really well, but we’re not seeing the increase in line that maybe some of our other zones are,” Smith said during the presentation. He and zone staff described high class sizes at certain grade levels and building capacities that make creative reconfiguration a practical alternative to boundary changes or immediate hiring beyond budget constraints.

Under the proposal, the Bennett Ranch facility — built for roughly 900 students — would temporarily house Falcon Elementary and Bennett Ranch Elementary as separate school operations, reducing classroom crowding at both schools and creating space to consolidate middle‑school programs back into the Falcon Middle School core building. The district also identified two district‑owned properties along the Woodman Road frontage (the Mohawk building and the Education Service Center) for appraisal; district staff said proceeds from any sale would be targeted as a down payment for future construction of the new PreK‑8 campus.

Board discussion focused on fiscal prudence and long‑term planning. Director LaVere Wright urged a clear accounting practice: “When we’re talking about the deficit, that deficit is caused by ongoing operating expenses. We should never solve ongoing operating issues budgetarily with one‑time money,” she said, arguing that sale proceeds should be reserved for capital projects. Other board members praised staff for consulting school staff and principals before the public presentation; staff said they spoke with Bennett Ranch and Falcon Elementary personnel and PEAK program leaders ahead of the meeting.

What the board asked staff to do: The board approved staff to proceed with exploratory, implementation‑level planning for the co‑location and new PreK‑8 concept, including property appraisals, transportation alignment and a timeline for design and funding. Staff told the board they will not finalize any property sale or construction contract without further board approvals and community engagement.

Why it matters: The plan aims to reduce operational costs by consolidating underused space, provide more appropriate class sizes for primary grades, and position the district to offer a school model (PreK‑8) that proponents say attracts and retains families. District leaders also noted the coming opening of a new Marzano K‑8 charter in the area, describing the plan in part as a response to competitive choice dynamics.

Next steps and finances: District staff said appraisals of identified properties are complete and will be used to evaluate market timing and potential proceeds. Staff and the administration said they will recommend how proceeds, if any, are used — with staff proposing the proceeds be held in reserve as a down payment for a future capital project; the board signaled support for reserving one‑time proceeds for capital rather than operating needs. The district also signaled that any bond or ballot measure to fund construction would require further board action and voter approval.

Operational details discussed included possible adjustments to bus routes (buses already serve the Falcon Middle School area), start‑time alignment if schools are co‑located, and the potential relocation of the PEAK program to the Falcon Elementary site once temporary co‑location is implemented. Staff said the timeline for a completed new campus would be multi‑year and dependent on funding.

Reporting notes: The presentation included student counts cited by zone staff (Falcon Elementary ~247 students; Bennett Ranch ~328 students) and classroom ratios used by principals to argue for the temporary consolidation. The board asked that community outreach and transparent timelines be part of implementation planning.