This election year, more than 30 school districts in Colorado are asking voters for more money in the form of bonds and mill levy overrides.
Denver Public Schools asking for a $975 million bond, Cherry Creek Schools asking for $950 million, Adams 12 Five Star Schools asking for $830 million, Douglas County Schools asking for $490 million and Aurora Public schools asking for $1 billion.
When voters approve a school bond, it allows districts to take on debt for construction of new facilities and improvements to existing ones. Tracie Rainey, executive director of the Colorado School Finance Project said, a recent state analysis showed $20 billion in facility needs for Colorado schools.
“You have structures that are 40 to 50 years old and how those structures were financed and built originally is not how education is being taught today,” Rainey said.
Rainey pointed to safety upgrades that weren’t necessary 50 years ago, like secure vestibules at entrances. Schools are also offering more career and technical education programs that require different classroom styles.