As the structural needs for Manitou Springs School District continue to mount, leadership is putting the finishing touches on its pitch to voters to help address them.

D-14’s Board of Education approved the finalized language to appear on the ballot for the Nov. 4 election for a bond measure to address district-wide needs at its regular meeting Monday night.

If approved, the $37.6 million bond would mark the district’s first successful vote in 35 years.

The three primary areas that the bond would address are accessibility upgrades for greater ADA compliance, safety improvements that include new security cameras and facility repairs and replacements as needed.

Board member Jill Bishop noted the ballot language that specifies these areas and informs the public on what exactly they’ll be voting on.

“I think it’s really concise and really clear, and that’s exactly what we want this to be,” she said.

A more encompassing, multi-phase bond totaling $67.8 million was considered earlier in the year, but this was pared down to a single-phase proposal following community feedback.

Manitou Springs school district presented proposal for potential bond

The structural needs identified include decaying rooftops, plumbing systems and HVAC systems. While the previous option would have completely renovated all athletic facilities and built additions onto existing buildings, these were ultimately considered less of a priority and too much to ask taxpayers.

D-14 Superintendent Sean Dorsey said that a poll conducted this year found that people’s view toward the school district was favorable, but costs remained a major concern.

“With everything going on now – trips to the grocery store, gas station and just daily living in general – it’s hard and it’s real money for people,” he said. “So we understand that hesitancy, but I think we’re going to do some really good work with that money if the public approves it.”

The new bonds would increase local taxes on homes valued at $100,000 by $8.69 per month. According to an analysis conducted by the district, this would amount to about $500 more per year for the average home in Manitou Springs, which is valued around $500,000.

At a special meeting on Aug. 7, community members and district employees voiced concerns that the district’s athletics are currently lagging behind neighboring districts and that, in addition to addressing student-athlete safety, greater investments would improve D-14’s image for families considering enrolling in the district.

While board members agreed with these concerns, they noted that they had to consider what their voters could realistically support.

Board president Tina Vidovich acknowledged various socioeconomic demographics that may dissuade voters without children in the district to get behind the bond, but added that it was the only funding mechanism to address their needs and that continuing to not do so could result in school consolidations or closures.

“And this work can’t get done if there’s nothing to work from,” she said. “We can’t kick this can down the street to someone else any longer.”

The bond would still address athletic facility needs, though to a lesser extent. If approved, the high school track would get resurfaced while its football field’s bleachers, parking and bathrooms would all receive upgrades for ADA compliance. Dorsey added that regrading or re-turfing the field along with the district’s baseball field is another possibility.

A community campaign group now plans to reach out to local voters and inform them about the bond ahead of the election.