Welcome Page   Process Overview    Research & Investigation     Master Capital Plan     Implementation

Process Overview

Montrose County School District retained RTA Architects in January of 2021 as the planning and design team to assist in the creation of a Facilities Masterplan. The District serves approximately 6,100 students spread across the communities of Montrose and Olathe, and manages approximately 800,000 sq. ft. on properties totaling almost 174 acres of land. The intent of the Masterplan 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 will provide a road map to assess and identify the needs for facility and capital improvements in the near and far future. The masterplan process will consider the conditions of all district facilities, including school campuses, district offices, maintenance buildings, and charter schools. The District values the importance of facility maintenance to keep standards high, prevent failures and maintain reasonable operational costs. Montrose County School District is proud to be the first STEM District in Colorado. They believe the facilities must be maintained to support current and future educational needs in order 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 long-term goals.

The final Master Capital Plan is a complex document that requires input from many people's diverse talents and perspectives. Two groups were created to consistently participate in the planning efforts: the Executive Committee and the Planning Advisory Team (PAT). These teams have met regularly throughout the duration of the masterplan process, and were assembled to represent the School District and communities of Montrose and Olathe.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is the primary decision-making group that makes final recommendations to the School Board. The Committee has and will continue to meet weekly throughout the master planning process and is committed to ensuring the direction aligns with the long-term vision of the Montrose County School District and the communities of Montrose and Olathe.

The following Core Values were defined by the Executive Committee;

Executive Committee Members:

Jeff Bachman, MCSD School Board Member
Philip Bailey, MCSD Director of Property Services
Penny Harris, MCSD Early Childhood Centers Director
Matt Jenkins, MCSD Public Information Officer
Colleen Kaneda, Owner’s Representative with Dynamic Program Management
Eric Kelley, MCSD School Board Member
James Pavlich, MCSD Executive Director of Operations
Dr. Carrie Stephenson, MCSD Superintendent of Schools

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 Executive Committee, parents, community members, and school district employees. The team brings a broad background of knowledge and expertise, including construction, general business, information technology, local policymaking, real estate and development, financial management, and more. The PAT met monthly throughout the master plan process, and their efforts have been invaluable to the process for defining project priorities for sustainable growth within the School District.

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

PAT Schedule & Meeting Records

Quick Links / Additional Information

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