By Anna Mahorski  

The St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) is looking for a spot on the Nov. 6, 2001 ballot.  

At a meeting May 7, citizen’s groups from each school attendance area in the district discussed the possibility of floating a $250 million bond issue. The school board is now looking at a 10-year term for the bond issue. 

According to SVVSD board member Jim Martinsen, the proposed bond represents a departure from how the district has handled these matters. “Usually, we go for three to five years, then wind up four years behind.  This (bond) would allow us to go out further, get more depth than ever before,” he explained.

The plan would allow the district to issue a $160 bond immediately and then wait for area growth before issuing an additional $120 million over the next 10-years. (See chart-page 22)

New buildings would not be started until needed by the particular community. “We need the schools to grow with the population,” Martinsen said. This year alone, the district saw a record breaking four percent growth in enrolment. 

The district already has conducted a voters’ opinion survey, with another survey scheduled for late May or early June to finalize the dollar amount to be requested.  

While the committee had no qualms about improvements to existing schools or building new schools, ne question concerned whether the district should build such facilities as a new district stadium and a swimming pool.  

Some felt that a stadium and pool are not part of the educational process.  But others felt that sports are an important part of education. The swimming pool would likely be situated in Longmont. “Hopefully the city of Longmont would help financially, so it would also be open to the public, not just a school project,” Martinsen added.

A large part of the funds raised by this bond will go towards decreasing classroom size in grades kindergarten through third grade. As a result, more classrooms 

Proposed Bond Projects 2001

Bid for Construction    Year Open    School Location 
 
 

May 2002  2003-04	Elementary #21	Erie West
May 2002 2003 or 01	Middle # 6	Tri-Town*
May 2003 2003 or 04	Elementary #22	Tri-Town North
May 2003 2005-06	High School #5	Erie
February 2004 2005-06	Middle #7	East Longmont/Weld
February 2006 2007-08 Middle #7	Middle #7	SW Longmont
May 6006 2007-08	Elementary #23	SW Longmont
May 2007 2008-09	Elementary #24	East Longmont/Weld
May 2009 2010-11	Elementary #25	Tri-Town So.
May 2010 2011-12	Elementary #26	Erie East

*Tri-Town area is Dacono, Firestone and Frederick

Chart provided by the St. Vrain Valley School District

This chart is an updated working draft of proposed bond projects for review by the Capital Needs Committee at the May 7 meeting.  For more information visit the district’s web site at www.stvrain.k12.co.us/