School closures and consolidations, new school construction and millions of dollars of needed upgrades.

As anticipated, these are among the potential remedies to address the critical state of schools and facilities within Pueblo City Schools (D60.)

On Thursday, the district's master plan and facilities assessment process shifted into the recommendations phase, with representatives of MOA Architects presenting the D60 board with a slate of restorative measures in light of aging and failing buildings, underutilized space and continued declining enrollment.

Jack Mousseau, of MOA Architects, ushered in his presentation by declaring that the information to be presented reflects options, not recommendations, with nothing set in stone. As did board President Barb Clementi and board member Dennis Maes later in the meeting, Mousseau offered assurance that no decisions have been made as to how the district will move forward.

"These options best resolve issues of projected enrollments, capacity, facility conditions, age of schools and grade level alignment," the board learned. "If additional options are identified through discussion, they can be added."

The options do not include air conditioning for existing schools, nor a new district-wide swimming pool complex and improvements to the Dutch Clark Stadium complex.

In all, Mousseau presented 15 plans, two of which involve a scenario in which a bond is either not presented to voters or is turned down. The others, based on passage of a bond, range in cost from $153 million to nearly $300 million.

In nearly every instance, migration to a two- and three-high school system is part of the recommendation, with closures/consolidations based on such factors as condition of buildings and district policy. Throughout the options, East High School and Carlile, Minnequa and Bradford elementary schools, and Roncalli STEM Academy, are the institutions most frequently recommended for closure, with students to be funneled to either existing schools or those to be constructed.

Central High School is not being recommended for closure but rather improvement.

Each option comes with a significant savings, not only in annual operation costs but in the millions of dollars that will no longer be needed to make priority improvements.

Here is a snapshot of each:

1A (two high schools): Cost to implement is $4.2 million and is based on no bond passed. East and Centennial high schools close and consolidate with Central and South. Roncalli STEM Academy closes, with students relocated to Pueblo Academy of Arts and Heaton Middle School. Carlile Elementary School closes, with students relocated to Bessemer Academy, Columbian and Heritage elementary schools. Minnequa Elementary School closes, with students relocated to Bessemer, Columbian and Heritage.

1B (three high schools): Cost to implement is $13.3 million, no bond passed. East would close and consolidate with Centennial, Central and South. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close.

2A (two high schools): $209 million and based on bond passage. Priority 1 and 2 renovations/upgrades made to every school in the district. East and Centennial close, with students relocated to Central and South. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close.

2B (three high schools): $272 million, based on bond passage. Priority 1 and 2 renovations made to every school in the district with East closing. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close.

3A (two high schools): $153.8 million, based on bond passage. Priority 1 and 2 renovations at schools with the greatest needs. East and Centennial close. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close.

3B (three high schools): $216.8 million, based on bond passage. Priority 1 and 2 renovations at schools with greatest needs. East closes. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close.

4 (two new high schools): $299 million, based on bond passage. Priority 1 and 2 renovations at schools with greatest needs, with two new high schools to be designed and built simultaneously. All four existing high schools closed or repurposed. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close.

5A (three high schools): $218 million, based on bond passage. Priority 1 renovations at schools with greatest needs. One new high school and one new middle school built. East and Centennial close, with students funneled into Central, South and the new high school. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford, Roncalli and PAA close, with PAA and Roncalli students attending new middle school.

5B (two highs schools): $241 million, based on bond passage. Priority 1 renovations at schools with greatest needs. One new high school and one new middle school built. Central would be renovated for Priority 1 and 2 items. Centennial, East and South close and consolidate into Central and new high school. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford, Roncalli and PAA close.

6 (two high schools): $240 million, based on bond passage. Priority 1 and 2 renovations at schools with greatest needs. One new high school built to replace Centennial and East. Central would be renovated as the district's second high school, with Centennial, East and South students consolidated into Central and new high school. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close.

7 (three high schools): $227 million, based on bond passage. Priority 1 and 2 renovations at schools with greatest needs. One new high school built to replace Centennial and East. Central and South would undergo renovations, and together with new high school, would serve Centennial and East students. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close.

8A (three high schools): $257 million, based on bond passage. Priority 1 renovations at schools with greatest needs. Two new high schools built, with Central undergoing Priority 1 and 2 upgrades to remain as high school and Career and Technical Education Center. Centennial, South and East be consolidated into Central and the two new high schools. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close.

8B (two high schools plus a Career and Technical Education Center): $257 million, based on bond passage. Priority 1 renovations at those schools with greatest needs. Two new high schools and CTE center built, with Central undergoing Priority 1 and 2 upgrades. Consolidate Centennial, South and East into Central and two new high schools. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close.

9 (two high schools): $192 million, based on bond passage. One new high school built to replace Centennial and East, with Central and Pueblo Academy of Arts undergoing Priority 1 and 2 upgrades. Centennial, East and South consolidate into Central and new high school. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close.

10 (four high schools): $285 million. Build three new small high schools (on Centennial, South and East sites) and renovate Central through Priority 1 and 2 upgrades. Priority 1 renovations at those schools with greatest needs. Carlile, Minnequa, Bradford and Roncalli close, with Heaton also to close and its students relocated to Central's east wing to make a 6-12 school.

Mousseau told the board that the top options selected by D60 administration cabinet, based on 10 criteria points, are 1A, 5A and 5B, 7 and 8A. It is these plans, the board learned, that the cabinet is recommending for presentation during upcoming community-wide open houses.

jpompia@chieftain.com