D-11 revs up for long-range plan

The first draft of a 10-year plan encompassing all Colorado Springs School District 11 schools and programs will be given to the Board of Education on Dec.1.

Then, over the next two months, administrators, consultants and newly appointed steering committee members will meet with principals, teachers and other D-11 staff and the public to massage the plan into a detailed proposal on what the district should look like and how it should proceed to reach its goals over the next decade. The plan will include recommendations for closing or reconfiguring schools - perhaps as many as 17 of the district's 61 school buildings.

On Wednesday, the D-11 Board of Education approved spending $20,400 to hire two consultants to facilitate the process and help prepare well-defined proposals for consideration.

The action came on the heels of a consultant's study that predicts the district's enrollment will continue to decline, and as it does, more schools will be operating at an inefficient level. The report recommended closing four elementary schools within five years, realigning grade levels and restructuring some programs.

Deputy Superintendent Mike Poore told the board Wednesday that a new steering committee will consider the consultant's study along with others done in the past few years. He also offered some general considerations, in draft form, that will be used as the plan is developed. They include:

• The district does not desire widespread reconfiguration of grade levels, but may consider some options such as a K-8 school, if it makes sense in some schools to improve achievement or maintain enrollment.

• If enrollment continues to decline as predicted, the district may have to consider closing or consolidating 10 to 14 elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school over the next 10 years.

• Programs will be evaluated and recommended based on students' needs, location in the district and cost effectiveness rather than because a building has excess space.

• The plan should be re-evaluated every two to three years.

Poore said the committee will look at strengths and weaknesses of all schools and programs and provide the board with several options as they work toward the final plan.

"The time for action is now," said board member John Gudvangen, adding that he hopes the community attends the meetings and helps the district tackle the hard decisions it's facing.

Here's the schedule of meetings coming up on the D-11 long-range plan:

Tuesday (Nov. 25): Steering committee meeting to prepare draft plan
Dec. 1: Draft 10-year plan submitted to Board of Education
Dec. 10: Meetings throughout the day with principals and school staff
Dec. 10: Regular Board of Education meeting
Dec. 17: Meetings throughout the day with principals and staff
Dec. 17: Regular Board of Education meeting
Dec. 18: Steering committee meeting
Jan. 6: 6:30-9 p.m., Public meeting at Mitchell High School
Jan. 8: 6:30-9 p.m., Public meeting at Coronado High School
Jan. 12: 6:30-9 p.m., Public meeting at Hillside Community Center
Jan. 13: 6:30-9 p.m., Public meeting at Palmer High School
Jan. 15: 6:30-9 p.m., Public meeting at Doherty High School
Jan. 20: 6:30-9 p.m., Public meeting at Wasson High School
Jan. 22: Steering committee meeting
Feb. 2: Plan presented to superintendent's staff
Feb. 4: Board of Education work session on plan
Feb. 11: Plan on Board of Education agenda as non-action
Feb. 25: Board of Education takes action on plan

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Contact the Writer: 636-0251 or sue.mcmillin@gazette.com