The writing is almost certainly on the wall for Breckenridge Elementary School.
Closing Breck El is the No. 1 recommendation from district leadership after several weeks of polling, and many different studies on the cost of keeping Summit’s oldest school open.
Superintendent Dr. Tony Byrd tonight gives his recommendation to Summit School Board, saying in a presentation packet he “prioritized Breckenridge Elementary based on significantly higher deferred maintenance costs and two schools serving the same community.”
Byrd recommends moving Breck El’s 160-ish students to Upper Blue Elementary, one of the district’s newer elementary schools in north Breck. The district estimates it would cost $17.4 million to expand Upper Blue for new students, which is about one-third the cost of rebuilding Breck El. This estimate includes eight new classrooms and one new cafeteria.
This is not the cheapest option – closing Breck El without building new classrooms would save a few million – but Byrd is confident this is the best move for the district. In a recent poll most respondents agree, at least in part, with 64% saying consolidation or reconfiguration is needed to “strengthen programs and sustainability.”
If Breck El closes, new classrooms are a must to meet the community’s No. 1 priority – high quality learning environments.
The school board has the final decision on what schools to close and when.
The board tonight also considers costly upgrades elsewhere, like new career and technical classrooms at the high school, and possibly new pre-K classrooms next door at Farmer’s Korner, where the district owns acres of undeveloped property.
Every option in this evolving consolidation and master plan requires money through a bond question. District leadership has implied it wants to get that question on the upcoming November ballo, which means time is ticking for the board. Byrd wants a decision on consolidation by May 7.
Tonight’s school board meeting begins at 5 p.m. with public comment. Byrd’s presentation is immediately after.