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Eagle County Schools Bond Question Facts
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More:November 2006 Bond Question
The Eagle County Schools Board of Education is placing a $128 million bond question on the November ballot. Bond projects include:
√ Repair & upgrade of facilities throughout the district
√ Technology enhancements in all district facilities
√ Repair & upgrade of Eagle Valley High School to meet district standards
√ New elementary school on Miller Ranch in Edwards
√ New high school to replace Battle Mountain High School with a 1,000-student facility on Miller Ranch in Edwards
√ Repair & remodel Battle Mountain High School for future educational and community uses
√ Buy land in the Eagle area for future schools
What are the repair and upgrade needs?
A detailed engineering study of all Eagle County Schools’ facilities was completed in 2006 by Ennovate Corporation. The study assessed all heating, air conditioning, lighting and ventilation systems. The bond package will allow the district to implement the recommendations of this study, which include replacement of boilers with high efficiency boilers, installation of demand-based ventilation systems and domestic water heater upgrades. Upgrades will result in energy efficiency improvements that will reduce future operational costs. Additionally, facility repairs for roofs, parking lots, carpet and security will be addressed.
What technology enhancements are proposed?
Instructional technology district-wide is outdated and would be upgraded. Other improvements include the replacement of outdated fire detection and alarm systems, intercom systems and other safety-related upgrades.
Why do we need to repair and upgrade Eagle Valley High?
The bond package includes high-priority repairs and upgrades to Eagle Valley High School. For example, the cafeteria, which is currently at 150 percent capacity, will be expanded. Repairs and upgrades will also be made to the kitchen, parking and certain classrooms. Improvements to Eagle Valley High would, when completed, bring the facility back up to the district’s facility standards.
Why do we need new schools?
Enrollment projections were presented by Strategic Resources West, Inc., a Denver-based consulting firm specializing in school district growth planning. Short term, our greatest crowding issues are in Battle Mountain High School, Avon Elementary and Edwards Elementary. Long term, the projections indicate an overall shift in population from the east end of the valley to the west end of the valley. Projections take into account potential new housing developments.
New Elementary School
The current capacity for elementary students on the east end of the valley is 1,622. By 2011, it is estimated that enrollment will be approximately 1,845. The majority of the growth at the elementary level is occurring in the Avon and Edwards areas. This fall, the district has opened a new preschool center in Edwards to ease some of the crowding in Avon and Edwards Elementary schools.
Replace Battle Mountain High
Battle Mountain High School was built in the early 1970’s, and has been renovated and expanded multiple times, reaching a classroom capacity of 765 students. The common areas, such as the hallways and cafeteria, cannot be expanded to efficiently serve this number of students. In 2005-06 there were 709 students. When build-out on the east end of the valley has been reached, the high school population will be approximately 1,100 students.
Additionally, the high school was built prior to personal computers and related technologies. The “Band-Aid” approach used to address the need for new classrooms and technology over the past three decades has resulted in an extremely inefficient campus that does not meet the needs of our students, our teachers and our community.
The Miller Ranch property in Edwards is the proposed location of the high school, which provides a mid-valley location, multiple access points and adjacency to Colorado Mountain College.
Why remodel Battle Mountain High?
The Battle Mountain High School facility is not equipped to meet the needs of a high school with over 700 students, however, with appropriate upgrades and repairs, the building can serve future educational and/or community uses.
Why buy land?
Student enrollment is growing more rapidly on the west end of the valley than it is on the east end. The district anticipates the need for additional facilities to meet these needs in the future. Land suitable for a school site is becoming less and less available and the district believes it is prudent to plan now for the future.
What will this cost?
The $128 million bond is estimated to cost homeowners $2.57 per month per $100,000 of a home’s market value as determined by the County Assessor. For example, the projected tax impact for a home with a market value of $400,000 would be about $10.27 per month.
Does the bond include construction inflation costs?
Currently, three neighboring school districts (Aspen, Summit, Roaring Fork) are faced with reducing the scope of their new school projects because construction costs have increased beyond the original value of the bond. Eagle County Schools is building in inflation costs as recommended by the construction industry to make sure that the bond provides sufficient funds to finish what the voters approve and avoid having to cancel or down-size projects. The $128 million bond is made up of new construction, repair and upgrade costs of approximately $97 million in today’s dollars. A 20 percent inflation in construction costs over the life of the project along with a 10 percent contingency brings the total cost of the bond to $128 million.
How does Eagle County’s school mill levy compare with other school districts?
In 2006, Eagle County taxpayers were levied 19.595 mills for school funding. The state average is 37.974 mills and school tax burdens vary from district to district. Roaring Fork taxpayers are levied 37.265 mills and Summit pays 22.910 mills.
The Bond Issue - By The Numbers
- 1,845 - the estimated number of elementary students on the east end of the valley by 2011
- 1,622 - the current capacity for elementary students
- 1973 - the year Battle Mountain High School was built
- 1,100 - the estimated number of Battle Mountain High School students when all potential housing build-out is completed
- 765 - the current classroom capacity of Battle Mountain High School
- 19.595 - Eagle County Schools’ 2006 mill levy
- 37.265 - Roaring Fork school district 2006 mill levy
- $2.57 - the monthly cost of the bond per $100,000 of a home’s market value
Eagle County Schools
PO Box 740
Eagle, CO 81631
970-328-6321
www.eagleschools.net
Eagle County teachers get $300K in bonsues
