Group forms to pass Gunnison RE1J School District’s bond

Devoted to bring schools into 21st century

A new group devoted to seeing a $55 million school bond proposed by the Gunnison RE1J School District pass was recently formed.

The group, called Citizens Investing in Schools for Our Kids (CIS), is comprised of concerned parents, business owners, educational advocates and other professionals, according to a press release dated September 2. The group’s sole purpose is to see the passage of local ballot issue 3A, which will provide funding for improvements to schools in Gunnison, Crested Butte and Marble.
“Our objective is to get the word out about 3A and help members of our communities understand the importance of keeping our schools strong,” said CIS member Caren Carroll of Crested Butte.
“In the first of many efforts to inform our communities about 3A, we’ve provided a cost breakdown by school site and plans for each site, as well as a straightforward way for homeowners to easily calculate the effect it will have on their property taxes,” stated Carroll. “We are sensitive to the current economic struggles many are experiencing right now, but we are asking the people of Gunnison County to take a moment to think about the vital role strong schools bring to our communities and to vote for the future of our kids.”
The group, which is unaffiliated with school district employees and representatives, is responsible for the campaign, fundraising and public education of the school bond that will be put to Gunnison County voters on November 4.
The group is made up of a variety of community volunteers from all points between Gunnison and Crested Butte.
Group member Kimberley Barefield joined the committee because she strongly believes in updating school facilities in the district. “I believe that a school district needs to have up-to-date facilities in order to have quality education outcomes,” she said. “Many of the schools need to be brought up into the 21st century. At the Gunnison High School, they don’t have the technology to do many of the labs, science and so forth to really give the kids the benefit of what’s currently available. In Crested Butte, we have a lot of the technology, but we have overcrowding.”
In its first public relations move, the committee has provided two pieces of information to help local voters decide the merits of the bond issue—a breakdown of improvements at each district site and method for individual property owners to calculate the impact of the bond’s passage on their own pocket book.
Residents who would like additional information about the 3A School Bond, or a member of Citizens Investing in Schools to speak to their group or organization may contact Kimberley Barefield at kbarefield@qwest.net or call (970) 209-5676.