The Colorado Springs District 11 School Board is deliberating on a $775 million bond referendum that could be presented to voters this November. The bond aims to fund significant improvements across the district’s schools, including the installation of air conditioning in older facilities and a potential pay increase for teachers.

Addressing Aging Infrastructure

Many schools in the district are between 50 and 100 years old and currently lack adequate air conditioning. The proposed bond would address these needs, ensuring that students have access to state-of-the-art learning environments. Dr. Parth Melpakam, a School District Official, emphasized the importance of these upgrades, stating, “We want to make sure our students have state of the art learning environments.”

Financial Implications for Homeowners

If approved, the bond measure would result in an increased tax for homeowners, estimated at approximately $6.50 more per month for every $100,000 of property value. Dr. Melpakam highlighted the need to consider the financial impact on taxpayers, noting, “We have to consider the various financing options. How it impacts our taxpayers.”

Teacher Compensation and Community Support

While bond funds cannot directly be used for salary raises, they would free up existing funds currently allocated for facilities, allowing for a proposed $10,000 pay increase for all teachers. This pay bump is seen as crucial for retaining excellent educators in the district. “A first year teacher to a 30-year teacher, all of them would see a $10,000 pay bump. To improve student outcomes, we need excellent teachers in our classrooms,” Melpakam explained.

The school board has been conducting polls to gauge community support, with current support for the bond polling around 54-58%. The board has until the end of the summer to decide whether to place the measure on the November ballot.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.