Voters could vote on $175 million bond for new schools

Since 1984, the committee has studied trends, reviewed housing developments and made recommendations for dealing with the growth.

The student population is expected to grow from 32,500 this year to 45,290 by the 2005 school year. New schools will be needed in every area of the county to accommodate the students, the committee said.

The committee forewarned the district last year that a bond election probably would be recommended because of growth, said Bill Reimer, the district's chief operating officer.

"Families with younger children are moving here," Reimer said. "That causes the need for elementary schools to grow."

The committee recommended building seven elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school and renovating and/or adding on to three high schools and six elementary schools.

The district is divided into three areas. Highlands Ranch is the north area, Castle Rock is the west area and Parker is the east area.

New buildings recommended and their proposed schedules include:

2001, Elementary No. 34 in the north area;

2002, Elementary No. 35 in the west area;

2003, Elementary No. 36 in the east area;

2003, Elementary No. 37 in the north area;

2003, Elementary No. 38 in the east area;

2003, Middle No. 6 in the north area;

2004, Elementary No. 39 in the north area;

2004, Elementary No. 40 in the west area;

2004, Middle No. 7 in the north area; and

2005, High School No. 7 in the north area.

Additions and renovations recommended by the committee include:

2001, Chaparral High, Parker;

2001, Northeast Elementary, Parker;

2002, Franktown Elementary;

2002, Mountain View Elementary, Parker;

2003, Ponderosa High, Parker;

2003, Highlands Ranch High;

2003, Pine Lane Primary, Parker;

2004, Castle Rock Elementary; and

2004, Northridge Elementary, Highlands Ranch;

If the board of education decides to ask voters the bond approval, it must do so by September to get the question on the November ballot.

The committee's report shows that if no new schools are built, the need for mobile classrooms will increase dramatically.

In the north area, up to 10 mobile classrooms will be needed for elementary schools in 2002 if additional facilities are not built. Cresthill and Ranch View middle schools will need mobiles this year unless the High School No. 6 is temporarily used as a middle school. Six mobile classrooms already are scheduled for Highlands Ranch High this year.

The east area around Parker has capacity through 2002 for elementary pupils with the opening of Elementary No. 32 in 2001. Another new elementary will be needed in 2002 to take the load off Pioneer and Iron Horse Elementary Schools. Middle schools will need mobile classrooms by 2004 and possibly a new school will be needed by 2005.

A new high school is expected to be needed by 2007. The expansion of Ponderosa and Chaparral High Schools will be sufficient until then, the committee said.

Mobile classrooms are in use at some elementary schools and they will be retained. Castle Rock Middle School needs three mobiles for 2000-01. Douglas County High School has space available for 2000-01 because of the south annex, but mobiles might be needed for 2001-02.

The board of education will consider a budget election question for operating funds for the new schools.