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Board moves to form planning advisory team after community master‑plan meetings
Summary
Board members heard results from six community engagement sessions and a survey indicating strong support for exploring new funding to improve or replace aging school facilities; staff will form a Planning Advisory Team and publish survey materials on the district website.
Rick (district staff) told the Archuleta County School District No. 50 Jt board that six community engagement meetings — including sessions with Spanish‑speaking residents and school‑based meetings — produced strong public interest in pursuing additional resources to improve school facilities.
"There is overwhelming support at this time to pursue what it would look like for additional resources to improve the quality of our schools," Rick said, summarizing survey feedback and in‑person comments. He said the surveys (English and Spanish) and a recorded presentation will be posted on a new facilities/master‑planning tab on the district website so residents can review details.
Rick outlined two high‑level options: a left‑hand path to seek added funding (which could include significant investment or new construction) and a right‑hand path that continues to draw down the general fund while incrementally funding maintenance and capital projects. He said the community responses skewed toward exploring the left‑hand option, especially for the elementary and middle schools.
The board agreed to begin forming a Planning Advisory Team (PAT) made up of a broad cross‑section of community members; staff tentatively plan the PAT to meet monthly beginning in January. Director Macky volunteered to serve as one of two board representatives on the PAT, and the board voted to treat the group like a standing committee and to add Master Plan updates as a recurring agenda item.
Why this matters: the district is projecting rising maintenance and capital costs that staff described as unsustainable under current annual spending levels. The PAT is intended to vet financing options and return recommendations to the board.
What’s next: staff will post survey files in English and Spanish, publish the recorded presentations, and begin recruiting PAT members; the board will report PAT membership and meeting dates at future board meetings.
Quotes in context: the reporting above reflects presentations and exchanges during the board’s December meeting where Rick presented survey results and proposed next steps.
