Spring 2021 CBOC letter to the Community

Dear Thompson Community,

The Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) was created to represent you in decision making regarding the bond issue approved in November, 2018. We do this by meeting regularly with the TSD Bond Team to review plans and progress, and by advising the Board of Education on bond-related matters. District staff continues to provide us with all of the information we ask for, and has asked for our input as decisions need to be made.

We are pleased to report that the work on projects covered by the bond funds is progressing well, and within budget. We are also satisfied that we are on target to have 85% of the bond funds spent within 3 years of issuing the bonds, which is necessary to maintain the tax-exempt status of the bonds. And we are happy to report that the District has been awarded over $7 million in BEST grants, which frees up money for projects that didn’t make the first cut.

Among the major projects included in the bond:
• Riverview PK-8 school is progressing toward a Fall 2021 opening. There have been recent news reports of structural issues. CBOC has stayed current on this matter, and we are satisfied that the issues have been resolved, and that the cost of repairs has been borne by the designers involved.
• The Early Childhood Education Center at Stansberry is nearing completion with funds from a Head Start grant
• The Thompson Career Campus and new Ferguson High has been completed
• Additions at Berthoud ES and Ivy Stockwell ES have been completed
• Security projects, including cameras, secure entrances and improved door hardware, are nearly complete
• Roof upgrades and replacements will enter the final phase in Summer 2021

As we begin the third year of work on bond projects, we have used only a small amount of the contingency funds set aside for unexpected situations. CBOC has begun to ask the Bond Team about additional projects which could be undertaken with these funds. One area that has been identified is the potential consolidation of Monroe ES, Mary Blair ES, and Conrad Ball MS into a K-8 school. The improvements needed at Conrad Ball could be funded, in part, by some of the contingency dollars. We will continue to look at this possibility, as plans progress. Since Monroe and Mary Blair would continue to serve students through the 2022-23 school year, some projects will need to be completed at those schools to ensure the safety and well-being of the students there.

The Board is also proceeding with expansion plans at High Plains K-8. This project will not fall under bond funding, but will be paid for using tax dollars set aside for school projects under the Loveland Urban Renewal Authority and Centerra Metro District.

CBOC continues to serve as your contact on bond-related matters. One of our roles is to provide answers to your questions, and to relay your feedback to District staff. Our email address is ThompsonCBOC@gmail.com.

We will continue to follow the progress of the bond work, ask questions of the Bond Team, and report our findings to you.

Sincerely, Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee