2024 Investing In Our Schools Bond

Great news for La Plata County! On Nov. 5, 2024, Durango School District 9-R Ballot Issue 4A passed by a large margin. This bond will bring much-needed improvements to our schools, enhancing facilities, safety, and learning environments for all students. Thank you to our community for your support and commitment to quality education. We’re excited to move forward together!

Bond Mission Statement

Supporting the 2024 Investing in Our Schools Bond means supporting the dreams of every student, with world-class learning spaces, forward-thinking solutions, and a commitment to the educators who make it all possible.

Bond priorities

The district is focusing on addressing aging facilities and the community's identified needs for learning outcomes. While the Long-Range Planning Committee identified nearly $250 million in needs, the district is using a phased approach to begin addressing these needs. The $150 million bond measure will increase taxes around $14 per month for a home valued at $500,000. Bond projects include:

Deferred maintenance: Replacing aging infrastructure like boilers, roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems
New construction: A brand-new elementary school in Three Springs to replace Florida Mesa Elementary School
Sustainability: Water-saving plumbing
Furniture and equipment: Updating outdated classroom furniture and instructional tools
Workforce housing: Exploring affordable housing options to help retain teachers and staff
Eliminate leased facilities: Finding options for land/property ownership vs. rental spaces for custodial, facilities and technology departments
School planning: Developing a long-term school replacement and modernization strategy
Renovate Escalante Middle School: Renovations to include learning space upgrades to create a more conducive learning environment such as more natural lighting, updates to flooring/paint and more
Conversion of the Florida Mesa Campus: Determine use for and plan conversion of Florida Mesa campus once the new Three Springs Elementary school is opened

Draft timeline for new school at Three Springs

Design Start – Spring 2025
Design Finish – Spring 2026
Construction Start – Summer 2026
Construction Finish – Winter 2027/28
Furniture, Commissioning, Training Finish – Spring 2028
Move-In – Summer 2028

Infographic on the bond not being used for salaries

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2024 Investing In Our Schools Bond

April 2025 Bond Update: District advances bond work with key planning milestones and project launches

Since March, Durango School District has made significant progress on the 2024 Investing in Our Schools Bond program, establishing oversight committees, selecting architects for the new elementary school, advancing planning and scheduling, and initiating early phases of construction and maintenance projects.

March 2025 Bond Update: Survey highlights urgent need for staff housing

A staff survey conducted by Durango School District (DSD) in February confirms a growing need for workforce housing among educators and support staff.

February 2025 Bond Update: Bond kicks off with big ideas and a galloping start

Durango School District (DSD) officially launched the 2024 Investing in Our Schools Bond with a high-energy event at Florida Mesa Elementary School (FMES) on Feb. 25, setting the stage for three years of transformative improvements across all of the district's schools.

February 2025 Bond Update: Assembling our teams and setting schedules

Since our December 2024 update on the 2024 Investing in Our Schools Bond, Durango School District (DSD) has made significant progress.

November 2024 Bond Update: Jacobs named project manager

Thanks to our community’s support of public education, Ballot Issue 4A passed with 61.27% of voters in favor. This $150 million bond will fund the construction of a new elementary school in Three Springs, address critical deferred maintenance needs, and explore affordable housing options for our teachers and staff. We are committed to being transparent and providing regular updates on the progress of the new bond plans via our newsletters and social media channels.

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