Welcome!

Thank you for taking the time to familiarize yourself with the process and future goals of Elizabeth School District!

In December of 2022, Elizabeth School District began the journey of developing a Facilities Master Plan, to serve as the framework for change and future decision making. This plan was created in collaboration with the school board, district personnel, parents and the professional planning and design team. Select from the links below to explore the process and outcomes!

 Process Overview    Research & Investigation     Master Plan     Implementation 

Quick Links / Additional Information

BEST Program Information
Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Assessment
School District Website

Welcome Page   Process Overview   Research & Investigation    Master Plan    Implementation 

Process Overview

Elizabeth School District retained RTA Architects in December of 2022 as the planning and design team to assist in the creation of a Facilities Master Plan. The District serves approximately 2,300 students within the community of Elizabeth, Co. The intent of the Facilities Master Plan is to evaluate existing facility conditions, understand current and future enrollment projections, and review the educational adequacy for each grade level served. With steady input from the District and community members, the final document provides a road map to assess and identify the needs for facility and capital improvements in the near and far future. The master planning process considers the condition of district facilities, including school campuses and the district offices. The District values the importance of facility maintenance to keep standards high, prevent failures and maintain reasonable operational costs. They believe the facilities must be maintained to support current and future educational needs to ensure student success.

The master planning process is both investigative and exploratory. It is essential to identify and understand how the existing conditions align with the District's Vision, explore options, and set goals that support current and future program offerings. The process is a fully collaborative effort between the school board, school district, parents, and the professional planning and design team. The final product serves as the foundation for facility planning, but it is considered a constantly
evolving, "living" document. As items are completed, and future needs are discovered, the document will serve as a guide for rational decision-making with respect to short and long-term goals.

The final Facilities Master Plan is a complex document that requires input from many people's diverse talents and perspectives. A Planning Advisory Team (PAT) was created to consistently participate in planning efforts and met regularly throughout the duration of the planning process. The team represented the School District, staff, and the Elizabeth community.

Planning Advisory Team (PAT)

The Planning Advisory Team (PAT) is a specially convened group of stakeholders that provide context, creative input, and critical feedback to shape the framework for the master plan strategy. The group includes members of the School Board, parents, community members, and school district employees. The team brings a broad background of knowledge and expertise, including construction, school facility maintenance, general business, local policymaking, real estate and development, financial management, and more. The PAT met four times during the master plan process. Their efforts were invaluable to the process for defining project priorities within the School District.

 Thank you to the following for your commitment and participation in the PAT:

Additional Presentations and Master Plan Review Meetings

PAT Schedule & Meeting Records 

Quick Links / Additional Information

BEST Program Information
Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Assessment
School District Website

Welcome Page   Process Overview   Research & Investigation    Master Plan    Implementation 

Research & Investigation

The research and investigation portion of the master plan is a comprehensive effort to fully understand the physical condition and educational adequacy of existing District facilities. The information that follows is a result of reviewing existing building documents, completing Principal surveys, district staff interviews, and multiple site visits and surveys by architects, engineers, and contractors. The information below becomes the basis on which the Master Plan is built.

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 Demographic Research

Western Demographics was hired to provide a demographics chapter and enrollment forecast for the Elizabeth School District (ESD) masterplan. Western Demographics has extensive experience providing these services in Colorado and throughout the west. Below are Western Demographics findings.

Findings

Interest rates and rising housing costs have created volatility in enrollment growth all over Colorado and elsewhere in the West. Although Elizabeth School District includes many large land developments that have been negatively impacted by interest rates, increasing birth rates and built-in growth in the form of larger numbers of preschool children will increase elementary enrollment soon and augment growth expected from new housing. New housing effects on school enrollments have been forecast based on the best thinking regarding future growth and an assumption that interest rates will normalize to rates that can be afforded by young families in 2024. If rates return to something relatively close to “normal”, the medium enrollment forecast basis shown in this report can be expected. If rates remain high, the low basis can be expected. Below are the enrollment forecast for Elizabeth School District through the year 2031.  

Conclusions

Elementary school enrollments at Running Creek and Singing Hills elementaries will increase as a result of elevated birth rates and continuing housing growth. The increase will exceed school capacities by the 2026-27 school year if interest rates moderate in 2024 and later than that if interest rates remain high. Middle school enrollment will increase but will remain within the current middle school facility capacity. High school enrollments will remain stable due to large grades exiting the system and neighborhood aging in some mature areas. Below is a chart that shows the program and functional capacity of each school and how it relates to the projected growth outlined above.

Other observations and school impacts are detailed in the complete demographics report that can be found at the link below.

Download Full Demographic Report

 District Facility Summary 

The chart above is included in the master plan to allow for quick comparison of campuses across the District. It includes physical site and building size along with general configuration information and CDE assessment information. The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) assessment information includes 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.

The chart above also includes current building student capacity and how it relates to the anticipated 2023 enrollment through the anticipated 2031 enrollment at each school. This allows a quick analysis of how a building facility will handle the student enrollment projections over the next 5 years. Based on the anticipated growth indicated in the demographics report by Western Demographics and the capacity data collected at each school, the elementary schools will be over capacity by the 2026 – 2027 school year. Middle school and high school will remain within their respective capacities up to 2031 - 2032 school year.

Identified Facility Needs

It is imperative to the master capital planning process that the condition of the existing district facilities is accurately assessed and objectively quantified. The following steps were taken to accurately assess and quantify the condition of the existing facilities.

• Review facility condition information
• Identify Current Problems
• Evaluate and prioritize deficiencies

Below is an overall pie chart that consolidates this information and creates a comparison of overall deficiency categories, and overall district-wide deferred maintenance by facility.

The following link provides a more detailed description of the Assessment Process and Matrix Scoring System

Assessment Matrix Scoring System

Detailed individual assessments for each facility can be found in the campus summary links in the findings sections below.     

 Singing Hills Elementary School Findings

The Singing Hills Elementary School was originally constructed in 1995. Alterations were made in 2016. The Singing Hills Elementary School serves the northern portion of the district and is located off Singing Hills Road. The building is a split face masonry building and in general is in good condition. However, general repair and maintenance items are required. During discussions with staff, it was pointed out that air conditioning is needed to handle temperature differentials in the swing seasons. HVAC controls also need to be upgraded. The existing florescent light fixtures throughout the building should be replaced with more efficient LED lighting. Interior Door hardware needs to be replaced. Some interior building finishes need to be replaced along with ??? Windows? Operation? Flooring? Carpet? MEP? Secure vestibule As noted in the Demographic Research, the Singing Hill Elementary School enrollment will exceed building capacity in the 26-27 school year. Enrollment growth is the main concern for this facility.    Download Summary by School: Singing Hills Elementary School Data

 Running Creek Elementary School Findings

 Elizabeth Middle School Findings

Elizabeth Middle School was originally constructed in 1977 and functioned as the middle school and high school facility until the new high school was constructed in 1999. Additions and alternations were completed in 1984 to add classrooms and expand the cafeteria and in 1989, the auditorium and music rooms were added to the building. While the building still functions well as a middle school, the age of the building is starting to become apparent and many building systems are reaching their useful life and need to be replaced. • VCT flooring needs to be replaced • Carpet flooring needs to be replaced • Replace all ext. soffits • Asphalt parking lots need to be roto milled and resurfaced • HVAC System condition? Some need to be replaced • Refinish the gym flooring • LED lighting in the gym • Lighting controls • Replace classroom casework • Replace all lockers • Replace all interior wood doors frames and hardware • Replace all ceiling tiles • Renovate all restrooms to be ADA compliant    Download Summary by School:   Elizabeth Middle School Data

 Elizabeth High School Findings

Welcome Page   Process Overview   Research & Investigation    Master Plan    Implementation 

Quick Links / Additional Information

BEST Program Information
Colorado Department of Energy (CDE) Assessment
School District Website

Welcome Page   Process Overview   Research & Investigation    Master Plan    Implementation 

Master Plan

Overview

The following Strategic Plan is a result of four Planning Advisory Team meetings establishing and discussing Elizabeth School District needs and desires moving into the future. Working with the Planning Advisory Team it became clear that early childhood education was important along with potential enrollment growth that is expected for the District. The age and condition of the middle school was also a concern. The group studied multiple solutions that encompassed proposed improvements across the District. Because of budget constraints solution A3 was selected that focused on strategic building additions at Singing Hills and Running Creek Elementary Schools that add space for early childhood education and at the same time increase elementary school student capacity. The middle school was identified to receive heavy renovation and building addition to accommodate administration space and to provide improved security. The high school was identified to receive a building addition to accommodate improved career technical education spaces.

The result is a plan that prioritizes the needs of the District by individual school.

Identified Projects

-- Elementary Schools --

 Singing Hills Elementary School 

The proposed project includes building additions, renovations and site improvements.

The current site plan does not include dedicated parking for dropping off preschool students. For preschool, parents are required to check their students into the program at the building. Current parking and drop off configuration are not ideal for preschool drop off and creates congestion of pedestrians and automobiles along the drop off. The proposed site improvements include a separate preschool parking lot that allows drop off without crossing the main drop off loop. Other site improvements include a new preschool playground near the preschool.

A four-classroom early childhood education addition is proposed to improve the program. A separate ECE entry is planned to allow separation of age groups. By moving the ECE out of the current classrooms, the enrollment capacity can be increased at the elementary school level. With this increased enrollment, a cafeteria building addition is planned to increase the number of students that can be accommodated at one lunch period. A standard three track classroom layout can be accommodated with four classrooms included at the kindergarten level. Three additional classrooms provide flexibility that can be utilized for enrollment bubble or enrollment growth. 

Preliminary Conceptual Site Plan TEST FIT 

The following floor plan is used for TEST FIT purposes only.
All future improvements are subject to stakeholder input through a future planning process. 

Preliminary Conceptual Floor Plan TEST FIT 

The following floor plan is used for TEST FIT purposes only.
All future improvements are subject to stakeholder input through a future planning process.  

Running Creek Elementary School

The proposed project includes building additions, renovations and site improvements.

The current site plan does not function well for parent drop off, bus circulation and parking. The proposed site plan splits the drop off lane from the parking lot. It also simplifies and reduces the bus drop off lane. The result is a plan that will separate pedestrians from automobiles, increasing safety. The entry will remain defined, and a sidewalk will extend directly to Elbert Street. Students walking to school will have a direct path to the entry without crossing bus or automobile traffic on site. The early childhood education parking will be separate and allow check in at the building without crossing the drop off lane.

The proposed building changes include interior renovation and a building addition. The proposed renovation includes major rework of the existing gymnasium space to accommodate classrooms for the ECE program and allow expansion of the cafeteria to accommodate more students at a single lunch period. The building will receive a gymnasium addition on the northeast corner. This addition will connect to the main corridor running through the building creating simple access to the PE classes. A separate entrance for the ECE program will be provided to accommodate age groups.

Preliminary Conceptual Site Plan TEST FIT 

The following floor plan is used for TEST FIT purposes only.
All future improvements are subject to stakeholder input through a future planning process. 

Preliminary Conceptual Floor Plan TEST FIT 

The following floor plan is used for TEST FIT purposes only.
All future improvements are subject to stakeholder input through a future planning process.  

-- Middle Schools --

Elizabeth Middle School

As mentioned above the age and condition of the middle school is a priority for the District. The building has capacity to accommodate the MS student enrollment into the future. The physical building condition and safety and security is the focus of the proposed project. The proposed solution includes heavy renovation to bring the building to a like new condition.

Site improvements are planned that increase safety and security of students. A new dedicated bus drop off lane is proposed that allows students to access the main entry without crossing vehicular traffic. It also allows all students, parents and visitors to use a single point of entry to the building. The parking lot will be paved and expanded to better accommodate after-hours activities. Outdoor space near the cafeteria and library will be improved to provide outdoor dining and student activities.

The building renovation includes new interior finishes and mechanical systems. The main interior corridor will be expanded and rejuvenated to create connections to all parts of the building. The cafeteria will be expanded to allow connection to an outdoor dining area. The classroom areas will be reimagined with zoning for grade level pods. Each pod entry will be open to create student areas along the main corridor. Each entry will have a clear identity relating to each of the grade levels, increasing classroom organization and wayfinding. The library will be renovated and a connection to an outdoor space will be provided.
A building addition is proposed that accommodates the school administration, district administration and a music room. The location of the addition allows the new administration space to be adjacent to the main building entrance. This creates a secure vestibule situation that requires check-in at the administration reception thereby increasing safety and security. This also creates a visual connection to the parking lot and sidewalk leading to the entrance. The music room addition is located near the commons / auditorium and the other music room. These spaces are connected with a corridor and become consolidated as the music theater area of the building.

Many discussions of options for district administration took place during the master planning process. This solution creates a building addition at the middle school to accommodate district administration. 

Preliminary Conceptual Site Plan TEST FIT 

The following floor plan is used for TEST FIT purposes only.
All future improvements are subject to stakeholder input through a future planning process. 

Preliminary Conceptual Floor Plan TEST FIT 

The following floor plan is used for TEST FIT purposes only.
All future improvements are subject to stakeholder input through a future planning process. 

-- High Schools -- 

Elizabeth High School

The high school facility was built in 1999 and is in good condition. The identified need at the high school level includes additional career technical education options for students. A 10,000 sf building addition is planned that would contain large open classrooms that provide flexibility for a variety of CTE program offerings. An outdoor learning and workspace are planned directly next to the CTE addition. 

Preliminary Conceptual Floor Plan TEST FIT 

The following floor plan is used for TEST FIT purposes only.
All future improvements are subject to stakeholder input through a future planning process. 

Frontier High School

Frontier High School was not included in this Master Plan.

Quick Links / Additional Information

BEST Program Information
Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Assessment
School District Website

Welcome Page   Process Overview   Research & Investigation    Master Plan    Implementation 

 Implementation

Strategic Plan for Implementation

In addressing the current and future needs of the school district, this strategic implementation plan focuses on several key priorities. Firstly, existing student capacity issues at elementary schools must be addressed, particularly by enhancing existing facilities to accommodate growing enrollments. Secondly, there is a critical need to expand Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs district-wide to meet additional student demands. Thirdly, the school district will improve the condition and functionality of the aging Middle School facility. Lastly, enhancing Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings at the High School remains a priority to better prepare students for diverse career pathways.

Understanding the sentiment within the Elizabeth community is crucial as we move forward with the strategic plan. The community has expressed a conservative stance on large-scale bond initiatives. This sentiment underscores the importance of thoughtful planning and community engagement in any proposed initiatives to ensure broad support and fiscal responsibility. To address this, the scope of the Master Plan has been reduced to better fit within the thoughts and sentiments of the Elizabeth community. Below is the strategic approach.

Strategic Approach

Charter Schools

The approach involves innovative strategies to address the district's needs efficiently. The school district plans to engage charter schools to explore the construction of a new elementary school facility on one of the district-owned vacant properties. This aims to alleviate capacity issues at elementary schools and enhance ECE programs to serve more students effectively while limiting the project cost exposure for the school district.

Middle School Security Upgrade

Additionally, a smaller project is proposed to enhance entry and administrative facilities at the Elizabeth Middle School, prioritizing safety and security improvements.  This includes an administration area renovation that moves the main admin function near the main entry and to create a secure entry vestibule.  This will secure the main entrance providing improved safety and security.  It is anticipated that this project could be funded through a mill levy override.

Future Planning

Looking ahead, we are committed to strategic future planning to meet long-term educational needs. This includes planning for a larger Middle School project with a defined target completion date. Similarly, we are preparing for a significant addition to our High School for expanded CTE programs, also with a set completion goal.

Middle School Renovation Addition Project Timeline Target 2 to 5 years ???
High School CTE Addition Project Timeline Target 5 to 10 years ???

Furthermore, we will conduct thorough studies to anticipate capital renewal and general maintenance needs across the district as we move into the future.

School Facility Capital Renewal Ongoing Yearly

Quick Links / Additional Information

BEST Program Information
Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Assessment
School District Website