◆ Architecture
■ Master Planning
● Interior Design
■ Master Planning
● Interior Design
Analysis
For most of the Facilities in the District, it has been many years since renovations or additions that truly impacted the learning environment.
- Current facility condition lags behind other local school districts.
- Current facility conditions hinder the ability to deliver 21st century education.
- Current facility capital renewer and repair costs impact spending priorities and hurt the ability to use district recources directly for education.
With this Bond Measure, the District can improve all of the facilities in a positive way.
As part of the master planning process, RTA Architects worked directly with the school district staff to identify high priority facility condition improvements at each of the facilities. Facility condition reports from the 2020 masterplan were used to list the high priority items.
District Facility Summary
The chart above is included in the master plan to allow for quick comparison of buildings and sites across the District. It includes physical site and building size along with general configuration information and Colorado Department of Education (CDE) assessment information. The CDE assessment information is found with the Facility Condition Index (FCI) score for each of the facilities. This allows quick review and comparison of the condition of the facilities across the District. All District Facilities have FCI scores above .5 indicating the additional repair and capital renewal needs associated with these facilities per CDE.
Properties
Findings
The elementary school was renovated and expanded in 2015 and the building is in above average condition. Most elements need immediate action or to be replaced in 10 years or less. The items include upgrades to the mechanical and electrical systems, expanding the kitchen, and replacing some of the interior finishes.
The demographic analysis of the district shows over the past 10 years, the elementary school has been mostly consistent with a slight drop in the past couple years.
Demographic data shows that Ignacio Middle School enrollment peaked in the 2015-2016 school year, and has been steadily decreasing since. This information predicts the enrollment in the next 5 years will continue to decrease. The building has the capacity to accommodate the enrollment projected 2030.
Enrollment
According to Colorado Department of Education statistics, enrollment across the state of Colorado has fallen slightly over the last three years. Manitou Springs School District Enrollment has also declined, but at a much higher rate. Since 2019, district enrollment has declined from 1.441 students to 1,147 in 2024.
Educational Adequacy
Educational Adequacy Assessments measure how well the facility supports the instructional program in the school. This is not an assessment of the physical condition of the school- the roofing, the windows, etc., which rates the various building systems. This is an assessment of the learning spaces compared to the program needs at that school. For example, if a district's music program includes an elementary component, each elementary school should have a music room with an appropriate learning environment, good acoustics, and space to store instruments or other equipment.
For each type of instructional space, the assessment includes four components:
- Learning Environment - The room should provide an inviting and stimulating environment for learning, including HVAC, acoustics, etc.
- Size - The room should meet the size standard set by the district/state.
- Location - The room should be appropriately located based on the program needs: quiet, noisy, near the entrance, etc.
- Storage and Fixed Equipment - The room should have appropriate safety equipment and storage for teacher/student materials.
In addition to the instructional Spaces, the adequacy assessment also includes the exterior of the building, e.g., traffic patterns, parking and access to the school, safety issues (lighting, signage, and secure entrances), play and athletic areas, and infrastructure that supports technology readiness.
Thank you for taking the time to review and consider our Facilities Master Plan. Share your thoughts by email with us at