Riverwalk aquatic center is part of $300 million proposals.

The Pueblo City Schools' (D60) bond issue campaign is underway, with more than 37,800 voters receiving by mail a packet of information that spells out the sizable challenges facing the district and two proposals to address the crisis.

"District 60's school buildings face many critical challenges," begins a cover letter. "Almost half of our school buildings are in critical or very poor shape. The district is also experiencing declining enrollment, resulting in unused space in many of our schools.

"In fact, our four high schools are 48 percent utilized and it costs us about $1.8 million each year to maintain unused or underutilized space districtwide."

The deficiencies were identified through a facilities master plan process, which also generated bond-driven proposals to update facilities and educational offerings.

"The anticipated benefits of updating schools include higher academic achievement, graduation rates, staff retention and parent involvement, reduced dropout rates and better student behavior," according to the letter.

The district is presenting two scenarios to voters, both of which require bonds in excess of $300 million.

A two-high school option would require passage of a $336 million bond, with a $311 million bond needed for a four-high school landscape.

The two-high school proposal would see the existing four high schools — Centennial, Central, South and East — shuttered and replaced by new two-floor, 2,000-capacity schools — one serving the northeast quadrant and the other in the southcentral quadrant.

Only the Central High School building would be repurposed, with the remaining three high schools demolished. It's anticipated that the two new high schools, which would be opened by 2023, would include competition and auxiliary gyms, a performing arts auditorium and Career and Technical Education programs.

With the bond proceeds, emergency repairs and priority upgrades would be made to seven elementary schools — Minnequa, Belmont, Franklin, Beulah Heights, Highland Park, South Park and Sunset Park — and middle schools Heaton and Pueblo Academy of Arts.

Roncalli STEM Academy and Carlile and Bradford elementary schools would close, with students transitioned to other institutions.

If implemented, the consolidations in this option would result in more than $247 million in future estimated cost savings, with $3.3 million in operations and maintenance costs saved each year.

For homeowners, the estimated tax impact is $11 per month per $100,000 of a residence's actual value. For business owners, the monthly impact is about $45 per $100,000 of actual value.

At a slightly lower price tag, the four-high school option would see Centennial and East high schools demolished, replaced by two two-floor, 1,200-capacity buildings, built on the existing sites, by 2023. The new schools would include a competition gym, performing arts auditorium or an auxiliary gym (with cafeteria) and Career and Technical Education programs.

Central and South would benefit from priority upgrades, as would Minnequa, Belmont, Franklin, Beulah Heights, Highland Park, South Park, Sunset Park, Heaton and Pueblo Academy of Arts.

Roncalli STEM Academy and Carlile and Bradford elementary schools would close, with students transitioned to other institutions.

If implemented, the consolidations in this option would result in more than $163 million in future estimated cost savings, with $2.4 million in operations and maintenance costs saved each year, according to the packet.

For homeowners, the estimated tax impact is $9.97 per month per $100,000 of a residence's actual value. For business owners, the impact is just under $40 per $100,000 of actual value.

In both options, the district's charter schools would also benefit from facility upgrades.

Also part of both options is an aquatic center and production kitchen.

In cooperation with the city, an aquatic center would be built near the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo. This facility would include a 25-yard-by-25-meter eight-lane pool, with a dive tank, to serve the needs of both district students and the community at large.

The centralized production kitchen would receive, store, prepare and package food for school meals, and host both the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant and summer lunch programs.

Voters next would be asked to offer their opinions and feedback via a mail survey. A 400-person phone survey would follow, as would community outreach meetings. Compiled data would be presented to the D60 board to decide whether to place a bond question on the November ballot.

"Nothing is final until we hear from you, our taxpayers," reads the mailer. "These are your schools. You have the final say as to how we move forward in addressing our highest priority facility needs."

jpompia@chieftain.com

Twitter: @jpompia