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Master plan update maps $735 million in seven‑year facility needs; district begins bond outreach and timeline
Summary
The district presented an updated master plan that estimates roughly $735 million in needs over seven years across capacity, capital maintenance and building modernization; staff briefed the board on outreach and a likely conservative $99 million bond scenario for future voter consideration.
Thompson School District officials on June 18 presented an updated long‑range master plan and a community engagement plan linked to possible future ballot measures to address facility needs.
District planning staff told the board the updated master plan — the first substantive update since 2020 — organizes needs into four categories and estimates roughly $735 million of capital needs over seven years: capacity (growth/reflected as modified and built capacity), capital maintenance (estimated at about $280 million), building modernization (estimated $240–$307 million depending on scope choices) and security (about $18 million). The master plan incorporates 2021 facility assessments by architects and engineers, updated enrollment projections and committee input from a 22‑member Master Planning Committee (MPC).
Staff and MPC leaders described a new “modified capacity” metric that adjusts built capacity to account for programmatic space taken by services such as early childhood, ILCs (intensive learning centers) and related supports that reduce student station counts in older buildings. That measure appears in the plan alongside traditional built‑capacity numbers to give a fuller picture of how space is used.
Operations staff said the capital maintenance estimate reflects a prioritized list of items identified through third‑party assessments and internal review (lighting upgrades, refrigerant changes, roof repairs and other site work). Building modernization items reflect program and health/safety upgrades and could vary in cost depending on the level of renovation chosen.
Security was separated into its own section in the update to call out vestibules, physical access improvements, surveillance upgrades and bi‑directional amplification systems for radios and first‑responder communications.
Staff outlined early planning for public outreach and a bond timeline. Communications staff said an advertising campaign that began in June has delivered nearly 3 million impressions and that a proposed bond ask is likely to be framed conservatively; staff described a scenario around a roughly $99 million bond that staff and consultants said would address a subset of critical needs and security work and would be presented to the board for action if the board approves in August. The district will coordinate with county clerks and bond counsels on intergovernmental agreements and final ballot language; staff said Weld County’s assessed valuation timing (due to oil/gas values) makes final assessed valuation numbers late in the process.
Board members praised the MPC’s process and emphasized that an ADA assessment now under way will help prioritize accessibility work. Several trustees asked staff to ensure the public materials show school‑level impacts (what would change at each school) and to include project photos, a dashboard of needs by site and clear explanations of how bond proceeds would be allocated.
Staff said the district will continue monthly MPC work, post the full master plan on the district website in an accessible version, and schedule community meetings and a “state of the district” presentation to share priorities and introduce the incoming superintendent.
