Brady PieperThis article was written using information found in the National Bond Report from Strategic Partnerships, Inc. This comprehensive report features information on every public entity planning to hold a bond election. To purchase this report, click here.
The Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) in Colorado is asking voters to increase the tax rate to fund district facility improvements and upcoming capital construction projects. Placed on the November ballot, CCSD is proposing a capital construction bond and a phased-in Mill Levy Increase, totaling $950 million, as the district looks to address aging infrastructure and technology.
If passed, the CCSD 2024 Mill and Bond Packages will raise residents’ tax rate by less than $3 a month per $100,000 of property value. The two packages will provide CCSD with capital to fund major infrastructure and security projects and a supplementary fund for the district’s operating budget.
On the capital construction side, the bond package encompasses a wide range of projects for upgrading and expanding district facilities. While fighting inflationary expenses, the near billion-dollar investment will mainly combat aging infrastructure in the district’s 68 buildings over 20+ years in age and 21 schools over 40 years old.
Regarding district innovation, the bond will fund the expansion of CCSD’s Cherry Creek Innovation Campus to accommodate more students and broaden the available career pathways. Additionally, funds will be used to renovate the IST building on the Prairie/Overland campus to support further career pathways and opportunities for students.
The capital construction bond will also be used on several technology upgrades that will provide students and faculty with increased connectivity and internet performance. Upgrades include classroom display replacements, data center and network upgrades and fiber network enhancement.
For maintenance projects, the proposed bond will fund updates to athletic facilities along with playground upgrades, roof repairs and various utility improvements districtwide.
Other bond-funded construction and renovation projects include:
- Laredo/Smoky Hill Campus: Rebuild Laredo Middle School to address student and program needs and upgrade athletic facilities at Smoky Hill High School.
- Prairie Middle School/Overland High School Campus: Construct a new pool, expand the central admissions office and perform minor renovations at Overland High School.
- Holly Ridge/Holly Hills: Build a new PK-5 school to serve two existing schools and fulfill student and program requirements.
- Cherry Creek K-12 Campus: Initiate the replacement of aging and deteriorating buildings on the Cherry Creek PreK-12 campus.
- Athletic Facilities: Renovate athletic facilities on the east side of the district.
Also requiring voter approval, the 2024 Mill Package will operate as a supplementary fund for CCSD’s operating budget. After recently raising CCSD’s mill levy override limit from 25% to 30%, the district will leverage the new supplemental funds to pay teacher salaries, maintain small classroom sizes and provide technology and instructional supplies to classrooms.
CCSD’s 2024 Mill Package will also address limitations in safety and security, future preparations, student health initiatives, transportation and technology upgrades across the district. All initiatives that will be funded under the Mill Package support CCSD’s commitment to further academic excellence and high-quality educational programs.
The proposed $950 million mill and bond were created by a Long Range Facility Planning Committee, consisting of community members, district employees and school representatives. Starting in 2022, the committee evaluated district buildings’ age, condition, utilization, impact and investments to develop a recommendation for CCSD’s Board of Education to consider.
The committee’s recommendation calls for more than $1.6 billion in total repairs, renovations, expansions and other related work to enhance the district’s aging infrastructure, many of which will be addressed under the 2024 Mill and Bond Packages.
Photo courtesy Elizabeth Murphy from Alexandria VA, United States
