School district narrowing in on bond proposal

Work session July 18

[  By Kendra Walker  ]

The Gunnison Watershed School District continues to develop a plan for a bond proposal to fund district-wide building improvements. On August 8 the school board will officially decide whether or not to pursue the ballot issue this year, and then will vote on specific language for the November ballot. 

This week, the school board agreed to hold a work session on July 18 to examine the details of the proposed bond prior to their decision. The current proposal is estimated at $89 million and focuses on safety, overcrowding and building efficiency as its top priorities. The bond package will include security upgrades to all entrances to get them up to industry standards, approximately $55.2 million in improvements to expand Crested Butte Community School’s building capacity, and building efficiency improvements on all district facilities to help improve long-term maintenance costs. 

“It would make sense for us to have a work session to really examine the nitty gritty of what you’re deciding on the 8th,” said superintendent Dr. Leslie Nichols. 

Nichols noted that the district will also have assistance in drafting the ballot language, which will begin this month. 

“It’s important for us all to have our radar out there and talk to people and see what people are saying and what they’re thinking about this,” said board president Tyler Martineau. “It’s going to be a big decision come August. We have to make a weighty decision and not an easy decision.”

While board members cannot campaign for the proposal once it’s on the ballot, they agreed that the district’s current focus is to spread awareness to community. 

“This summer it’s creating awareness,” said LeeAnn Mick. “We need safe schools, we need to address overcrowding and we need to address maintenance. We still want the community to feel supportive of what we are doing.”

The school district will have a presence at the local events this summer, including Cattlemen’s Days, Fourth of July and Alpenglow concerts.