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Steamboat Springs School District master planning committees meet

Teresa Ristow

— Members of the Steamboat Springs School District’s four master planning committees met Thursday evening to formulate a wish list of facilities improvements for district buildings.

District-hired architect Matt Porta of SlaterPaull led the two-hour meeting, helping committee members develop guiding principles to keep in mind as the district moves toward a capital construction project.

The district is moving forward with a yet-to-be determined capital project to address sustained increasing enrollment that has put district elementary schools above desirable capacity.



Whether a new school will be built or purchased, or what renovations will take place has not been determined. District administration has said a bond measure could be presented to the community as early as this November to fund the improvements.

“Things are still in motion and nothing is solid yet,” said Porta to committee members, which include school board members, parents and teachers. “We have a lot of work to get done over the next few months.”



Among the wish list items suggested by attendees Thursday were more gymnasium space, proper ventilation and acoustics in classrooms and flexible and innovative storage and furniture.

Committee members also wanted more space dedicated to STEM classes, vocational training and even daycare or preschool programs.

Committee members stressed that they wanted to be forward-thinking and come up with a facilities plan that would be long-lasting, with space available for the community to use.

“A good master plan isn’t something you put away, it’s something you keep revisiting,” Porta said.

SlaterPaull has created a survey available on the school district website for community members to provide input on what they like and dislike about current facilities and what they’d like to see in terms of improvements.

The survey will be available for the rest of the week, before Porta closes it and compiles the results, he said.

Several more community meetings are scheduled over the next two months.

A presentation on the three best options for capital improvements to district facilities is scheduled for April 29, and a selection for what project the district should proceed with is expected to happen May 12.

To reach Teresa Ristow, call 970-871-4206, email tristow@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @TeresaRistow


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