Voter-approved bond measures are long-term financing that is used by school districts to fund brick-and-mortar-type projects. This types of financing allow school districts to access upfront funds to more quickly address building renovations, school additions, new schools, and/or other capital improvements.

St. Vrain seeks to address its highest-priority capital facility needs, without imposing any new school district property taxes. The bond improvements would be focused on safety and security, infrastructure upgrades, updating classrooms and labs, adding space to enhance and expand career and technical education (CTE) programming, and addressing overcrowding and future enrollment growth via classroom additions and new schools.

No. The voter-approved bond measure would not increase taxes and would not increase the district’s existing maximum annual debt service. This is possible because of existing community investment, strong financial management, and increased resources tied to population growth and economic strength.

Voter-approved bond measures are long-term loans that are used by school districts to fund brick-and-mortar-type projects. These types of loans allow school districts to access upfront funds to more quickly address building renovations, school additions, new schools, and/or other capital improvements.

The bond proposal was developed to impact all students and every school in the district.

SVVSD is considering placing a $739.8 million bond proposal on the November 2024 ballot.

Through strong financial management, budget outperformance, debt restructuring, and early debt payoff, the District has saved taxpayers more than $82 million over the past two decades, including $36.8 million this past December.

The District’s facilities team reviewed more than 1,500 facility needs that were identified by comprehensive facilities audits conducted by district staff, architects, and engineers. Building and site needs were also identified by educational and operational department leadership, maintenance staff, charter school leadership, and a student advisory council. This planning process took many months to complete. The bond proposal recommendations were reviewed by a large community task force that included business owners, elected officials, community leaders, parents, teachers, and others who unanimously supported the proposal.

The improvements to be addressed at the District’s existing school buildings include:

• Safety and security improvements
  • Access upgrades to doors, windows, and vestibules
  • Improvements to security and communications through cameras, intercoms, and first-responder radio coverage
  • Fire safety upgrades to alarms and suppression
• 33 roofing projects
• 38 reimagined educational spaces
  (reconfigure/repurpose underutilized spaces)
• 54 interior refresh projects
• More than 100 heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) replacements (not previously addressed)
• 74 critical infrastructure projects (plumbing, electrical, grounds maintenance, etc.)

The bond proposal calls for expanding the District’s nationally-recognized Innovation Center and constructing five new school buildings, including a new Montessori School in Longmont, a new high school in the Erie/Tri-Town area, a new PK-8 school in Mead, a new elementary school in Erie, and a career and technical education (CTE) center located on the campus of the new high school. A number of secure entry vestibule projects are also part of the proposal.

CTE programming would be enhanced and expanded with the addition of a new CTE center in the Erie/Tri-Towns area and the expansion of the Innovation Center in Longmont. Additionally, the new facility will significantly increase capacity at the Career Elevation and Technology Center in Longmont to provide more students with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge programming in high-growth fields such as advanced manufacturing, welding, and healthcare, as well as earn industry-leading credentials. The District is committed to providing more skilled trades classes focused on the following areas:

• Construction management
• Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems
• Computer systems, cybersecurity, and virtual reality
• Healthcare and biosciences
• Manufacturing, including fabrication, welding, and electronics
• Aviation, drones, and robotic technology

Yes. The District’s charter schools would have the opportunity to participate in the bond measure to address their highest-priority capital facility needs.

Many of the repairs and renovations that are part of the 2024 bond proposal will improve building efficiency, including the replacement of outdated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that have reached the end of their useful life, new roofing, window replacement, exterior envelope upgrades, and related improvements. The new school buildings, and the addition to the Innovation Center, would also be highly efficient.

Waiting another five years to address the District’s highest-priority facility needs would increase the total price tag by an estimated $200 million due to construction inflation. This assumes construction costs rise by at least five percent annually.

Are grants available to help reduce the total request?
The District continues to apply for grants from the state and federal governments and through foundations and nonprofit organizations. These grants are often for educational programs, student support, and other operational purposes. However, there are grants for energy efficiency and other programs that benefit the District’s facilities. Over the past several years, the District has received more than $64 million in competitive grants, and we intend to continue our efforts to identify and receive grants to help address applicable needs across the  District.

The District’s previous construction projects have resulted in significant economic impacts to local contractors, restaurants, lumber yards, gas stations, retailers, hotels, and other businesses. The same would hold true for the construction projects that are part of the 2024 bond proposal. 

The District will be hosting community information meetings this spring and early summer, with the dates, times, and locations posted on our website at www.svvsd.org. This spring, the District will also be mailing an information piece to registered voter households that includes a link to an online survey. Your participation is greatly appreciated. Additional questions and feedback can be sent to [email protected].

Final decisions regarding the scope and timing of a possible bond measure will be made by the SVVSD Board of Education in August, providing time for additional public input.

People who support this bond measure say:

• The safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance. Adding secure entrances and modernizing other safety features is the best way to keep students and teachers safe so they can focus on learning at school.
• Adding career and technical education space will get more students on the path to earning industry certifications or two-year associate’s degrees, helping reduce the cost of college and providing valuable career skills for students who want to enter the workforce.
• SVVD has shown to be a fiscally responsible district and with the growth in the district, we need to stay ahead of it.
• Overcrowding in local schools is a real issue and we need more buildings.

People who oppose this bond measure say:

• We can increase class sizes to accommodate new growth.
• Schools should be fully funded by the state, not by local property taxes.
• SVVSD seems to be enjoying a lot of success with their current level of resources, so they do not need more.
• The community needs to explore more options to accommodate growth without building new schools.

None. Bond dollars can only be used for bricks and mortar projects and cannot be used to increase salaries or hire administrators. St. Vrain has one of the lowest percentages of funding for administrators of Colorado’s large school districts (around 6-8%). While St. Vrain keeps administrative costs low, the district has remained committed to increasing salaries for teachers, bus drivers, nutrition service workers, custodians, and other critical support staff, making significant gains in salary levels over the past decade. St. Vrain has one of the highest starting salaries for teachers in the Denver Metro Area.

Yes. As the district has continued to strengthen and advance student achievement and opportunities, it has also focused heavily on strong financial management and systems that will ensure the best use of community resources and investment. This has included debt refinancing, payment structuring, and early debt payoff strategies which has saved taxpayers approximately $82.3 million over the past two decades. This includes $36.8 million saved in December alone, a testament to the district’s conservative financial planning and its dedication to the community’s economic well-being. The $82.3 million in savings does not go back to the district for other uses, and is solely for the benefit of the taxpayers. For property taxes collected in 2024, the district continues these efforts and has reduced the property tax mill levy rate by 1.147 mills. 

The District has consistently delivered on time and within budget when it comes to previous bond programs.

Yes. The District would use reserves to address certain capital improvements that are not addressed by the bond measure.

No. The District has managed its budget to sustainably plan for expected growth and will not need to pass a Mill Levy Override to operate and support new schools. The District is confident that it has enough operating dollars to staff, operate, and maintain the new schools that would be constructed as part of the 2024 bond program. 

District voters approved a $260 million bond in 2016. That bond focused on repairing school buildings, addressing safety and security needs, improving energy efficiency, making classroom additions, and constructing three new school buildings to support student enrollment.

For many years, Longmont was experiencing most of the population growth and economic development within the District. That now holds true for the Carbon Valley area. However, new schools and bond improvements will positively impact every community within the district’s boundaries.

As with previous bond programs, a large percentage of the work would be done in the summer months to minimize disruptions. Safety would remain the top priority with all construction projects.

St. Vrain is one of the highest-performing school districts in Colorado and is nationally recognized for innovation, community engagement, and technology. The following are just a few of our points of pride:

• At 93.3%, St. Vrain’s four-year traditional-school graduation rate is the highest in the Denver Metro area.
• The District’s Hispanic graduate rate continues to increase at a faster rate than the District total, going from 55.9% in 2010 to 88.3% in 2023 – also the highest in the Denver Metro region.
• Our dropout rate, at 0.6% for all students and 1% for Hispanic students, is the lowest of any district in the Denver Metro area.
• Last year, St. Vrain students had the opportunity to earn over 31,250 college credits through Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, and concurrent enrollment college classes.
• Last year, 473 students participated in a work-based learning apprenticeship or internship program, and 693 certifications were awarded to students enrolled in one of 17 programs offering industry-recognized certifications.
• Since 2019, St. Vrain athletes have brought home approximately 200 state titles, individual and team – the highest number of championships by percentage of students in Colorado.
• St. Vrain has been recognized as a NAMM Best Communities for Music Education District for the past three years, representing the top 15% in the nation, and is the highest all-state choir performing district in Colorado.
• St. Vrain has outperformed the Colorado average on 100% of state standardized assessments.
• St. Vrain is home to over 240 competitive robotics teams, as well as numerous state, national, and world champions.

These accomplishments would not be possible without the support and investment shown by  the residents within our district. Schools are a critical part of the fabric of our community, and having a strong, high-performing school district benefits  everyone through increased property values and a vibrant local economy with a ready workforce.

St. Vrain is one of the few districts in the Denver Metro Area that has continued to experience growth. The District’s enrollment is projected to significantly increase over the next decade, with an eventual build-out plan for 70,000+ students.