Steamboat Pilot & Today

When the old School Board ended its term Monday night, its schedule for possible renovations of district facilities ended, as well.

Decisions on facility renovations are now entirely up to the new School Board, district officials said Tuesday.

Superintendent Donna Howell said the original intent was to have an update for the Facilities Master Plan, which details facility projects for the next five years, finalized by spring. Although the process is speeding up a bit -- that update may be finished by February -- Howell said the renovation process is in its early stages.

"I don't think you'll have a bond issue next November," she said.

Two forums remain for public comment -- Monday at Steam-boat Springs High School and Nov. 30 at Steamboat Springs Middle School. Both begin at 7 p.m.

The forums address questions including what to do with facilities at Soda Creek Elementary School and the George P. Sauer Human Services Center and how community partnerships could help funding for renovations.

If residents and the School Board decide to rebuild Soda Creek, there would be at least two options for a site. The district owns a 9-acre site off Whistler Road, with an option to purchase 5 more acres, Howell said. The standard size for an elementary school site is 10 acres. Howell also said Soda Creek could be rebuilt on its existing site.

The district's Facilities Analysis can be viewed on the Internet at www.sssd.k12.co.us, through the Facilities link.

That analysis was paid for by the Education Fund Board, a nonprofit group that receives revenues from a half-cent sales tax approved by Steamboat voters, most recently in 1999. That tax brings in about $2 million a year, Howell said.

Any renovations are likely at least a couple of years down the road, officials said.

"I was thinking 2007 or 2008," said Dale Mellor, director of finance and operations for the district. "But it depends on what the board wants to do."

-- To reach Mike Lawrence, call 871-4203or e-mail mlawrence@steamboatpilot.com