Though Mancos school board president Blake Mitchell said the district needs to “aggressively pursue” renovating its football field and other school facilities, board members agreed the district is not prepared to put a bond issue on the ballot in the fall.
“We’re not prepared for it,” said newly appointed school board member Tim Hunter at the board’s meeting Monday. “We need more time to get community input.”
District officials have discussed a bond issue to generate revenue in order to address the district’s aging facilities, such as the football field and the performing arts center. Since this November is a presidential election, voter turnout and interest will be high, which would make it a good time to put a bond issue on the ballot, Superintendent Brian Hanson said.
But Hanson said at the meeting that time was running out for the district to put together a campaign and get a bond issue on this fall’s ballot. Board members decided the district should wait until November 2017 to propose a bond issue.
The Mancos Public Library will pursue a mill levy in the upcoming election to support extended hours at the library and staffing costs, library board representative Amy Getz told board members. Getz asked the school board to consider how the two entities could support each other.
“Having two bond issues during a single election may hurt both entities,” she said.
School board member Pamela Coppinger said the district should explore other funding methods or grant options such as a Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant from the Colorado Department of Education. Board members also discussed a possible county or town sales tax, but they did not consider that a viable option.
District officials will have to address the football field sooner or later, though, Hanson said. The field is becoming a liability, he said.
“Bond or no bond, we have to do something to the football field,” Hanson said.
Also at the meeting, board members discussed the district’s budget for the 2016-2017 school year, but did not take a vote on it. The board will meet May 27 at 7:30 a.m. to vote on a preliminary budget, which the district must approve by the end of May, Hanson said.
The district’s per pupil funding for the next school year is about $8,200, business manager Chrissie Miller said.
Board members discussed several entities to which they have yet to commit funds. Miller said the district hasn’t yet budgeted money for Montezuma School to Farm Project, San Juan BOCES or the board’s membership to the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB).
School to Farm has asked the district for $6,000, but board members were reluctant to promise the organization the money. Hunter said the hands-on learning the program provides students is important.
Elementary Principal Cathy Epps also has said the program is important, and said she would be willing to explore other funding avenues, such as private donations, in order to keep the program running.
The district’s membership to CASB would be just over $5,000, Hanson said. The organization provides crucial information on policy for the district, Hanson said. He recommended that the district remain a member, and board members agreed, saying the legal help CASB provides would not easily be replaced.
Board member Monty Guiles said the district currently funds three teacher salaries via a mill levy stipend that expires in four years. Guiles said the board needs to prioritize finding a way to pay for those salaries, which total about $150,000 through the general fund.
Miller said the district has explored buying a new, $20,000 accounting software system to replace the current 8-year-old system. Guiles said he would want to examine that further before he would vote to approve it.
The board agreed Monday to deficit-spend $22,000 in order to hire another paraprofessional at the preschool. Several students were on the waiting list for the preschool last year, but could not enroll because there were not enough staff members, Hanson said. Though the school might not be at full capacity if the board agreed to add another staff member, Hanson justified the decision by saying they should make an effort to use the building.
“We built it, so let’s fill it up,” he said.
The board remained undecided on continuing its relationship with San Juan BOCES. Board member Boe Hawkins, who is the board liaison to BOCES, said he did not like the agency’s funding model. Hawkins said he is worried about Durango School District 9-R withdrawing from BOCES, which might leave other districts responsible for shouldering the agency’s costs.
Hanson urged board members not to let emotions dictate their decision on BOCES and said they should wait until more facts are available.