Generations of Cañon City residents have walked the halls of Cañon City High School and thousands of memories have been made whether it be watching Citizens' Stadium rise into the sky, singing along with Mr. Albrecht's Encore!, or communing in the hallways during lunchtime.
But with those wonderful memories come the weight of years of wear and tear on the building that so many Fremont County residents know and love. With the community's support, Cañon City Schools has a chance to remedy the degradation of CCHS.
Earlier this year, Cañon City Schools was one of just 17 districts that were chosen to benefit from a Building Excellent Schools Today grant. A total of 48 proposals from across the state were submitted to the BEST Board for consideration and the Cañon City School District, because of its detailed plan of action, was awarded a chance at $23 million grant to address structural issues, and health and safety concerns in the 1961 "quad" section of CCHS.
"I think we did great work, I really do," said Cañon City Superintendent Adam Hartman. "I think that we did a smarter job than some of the project proposals I've seen before -- not just talking about things like pipes and bricks but talking about impacts on learning and kids. I feel like it really resonated with the group."
To put it in perspective, the BEST Board has $100 million to distribute amongst Colorado schools -- meaning 23% of it is available to Cañon City.
The grant, however, is contingent upon a November 2023 Bond Election, or cash match, of $13 million. The bond would be a 25-year bond. The timing seems serendipitous, however, as the 2004 bond (which resulted in the building of Harrison School) is set to expire in 2024. Voters will have the chance to approve Ballot Issue 3A in November without the risk of a mill levy increase (no increased taxes).
"If we don't pass this bond, that $23 million will be allocated to [other districts] that didn't receive funding," Hartman said. "We won't get another shot at it, they'll [the BEST Board] will move on to the next project in line."
The "quad" at CCHS has served thousands of students throughout its 62 years as a Cañon City institution, but the wear on the building is becoming ever more apparent. Independent architecture and engineering assessments uncovered approximately $22 million worth of items due for replacement in the next five years. Those replacements include significant structural movement and settling, which has resulted in the damage of utility lines and interior finishes and the desperate need for replacement of HVAC, electrical, roofing, and sanitary lines.
School funding in the state of Colorado doesn't allow districts to create large savings accounts for the construction or renovation of facilities -- which makes the BEST grant opportunity valuable.
Should ballot item 3A be approved by Cañon City voters, the 41,300 square foot "quad" portion of CCHS will be slated for demolition and a brand new, 49,700 square foot wing, similar in style and design to the late 2000s edition on the southern side of the school, will be constructed on the institution's southwest side. Construction on the proposed project would continue in several phases throughout 2024, 2025, and 2026 until the newest, two-story wing reaches completion.
"If we didn't have the BEST grant, I would likely be feeling less optimistic," Hartman said. "I'm feeling optimistic because the [of] opportunity the BEST grant provides -- it's a matched money thing, it's a way to make your dollar go way further."
It's important to note that, should the ballot item be approved, formal bids from architects would be accepted by the district and the project may differ slightly from the proposed project above.
"The ballot question clearly outlines where these dollars must be invested," reads a Ballot Question 3A handout. In other words, though the district's ultimate vision of what the new wing may look like may change, the BEST grant funds cannot go toward another project, pending approval.
CCHS will not be the only school to benefit from the approval of ballot item 3A. Whilst CCHS is the only project slated to benefit from the BEST grant, the bond itself would also serve to allow funds for three additional projects, including McKinley Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, and Cañon Exploratory School. Projects for the above schools would include the following:
McKinley Elementary:
- new gymnasium addition
- additional prioritized improvements
Lincoln Elementary:
- new gymnasium addition
- additional prioritized improvements
Cañon Exploratory School:
- remodeling -- slated to focus on improvements to the learning environment to better support the teaching and learning practices of the school
"The issue that we face both at McKinley and Lincoln schools is that the existing gymnasiums serve as [the] gym, cafeteria, and auditorium so, because of that, the schedule compresses," Hartman said. "The addition of a gymnasium is essentially to allow for a dedicated cafeteria."
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