Community, Students, Parents, and Teachers,

I’ve been with Platte Canyon School District for over 24 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator. Both of my own children are Platte Canyon graduates and attended preschool through high school in our system. I have witnessed first-hand the many achievements of our students in our school-related programs. Over the past two years the District has undertaken an extensive master planning process. Working with our consulting architects we have reviewed the conditions of our existing facilities and explored multiple master planning options with input from community members, District staff, teachers, and parents. Through this process we continue to focus on creating safe and appropriate educational environments. Through this master planning process, it has become apparent that circumstances continue to compel us to focus on upgrading our facilities in order to safely educate our students well into the future.

Simply, our current preK-5 campus, Deer Creek, needs major system upgrades (mechanical, electrical, grading, portable classrooms) over the next few years. In fact, the State of Colorado independently identified Deer Creek as the highest FCI score (weighted score of repairs) in the state. Though our elementary school is safe and functioning, the effort and resources required to maintain this building continue to increase.

Our middle school is also aging, and our high school is underutilized. Through our master planning process, we aim to consolidate our schools on one integrated preK – 12 campus at our current MS/HS site, drastically increasing safety and efficiency for our stakeholders.

To address our aging preschool facilities and as the first step in consolidating our campuses as part of our phased master plan, the PCSD1 Board of Education approved a preschool renovation project in the spring of 2023. As early as January 2024, the preschool will be moved to the Administration building on the MS/HS site, and our youngest students will enjoy a modern, safer space. This consolidation represents a start on what we anticipate will be an overall 17% reduction in the square footage maintained by the District, maximizing efficiency and district resources, while maintaining SF/student below state minimum standards. Consolidating campuses creates one true community focal point, one where all stakeholders can actively participate in our academic, extra-curricular, and after-school programs.

In order to fund the remainder of the phased master facilities plan, the District will continue to explore multiple funding options including grants such as the state BEST Program. In order to leverage the matching dollars of a BEST grant, strong community support is needed in the form of a bond in November of this year. Passing a bond in November will enable the District to convert the existing middle school into a modern elementary facility and will allow us to maximize space in the existing high school by moving the middle school students into that space, creating a 6-12 building.

We are very excited about the opportunities that the phased master plan will provide for our community, students, parents, and teachers and look forward to working with you to support our school District.

Mike Schmidt
PCSD Superintendent/PCHS Principal