Fleming Schools to establish steering committee following failure of bond issue 4D in recent election

The Frenchman School District in Fleming sought out a bond to match possible grant funds for a new school building in the Nov. 5 general election. The 4D bond issue on the ballot didn't pass, however, the school district plans to move forward in the BEST grant application process.

In his superintendent's report to the Board in a Tuesday evening, Nov. 19 meeting, Steve McCracken thanked those who supported 4D as well as those who worked to get the question on the ballot.

The bond, if it had been approved, would have been used to match possible BEST grant funds to construct a new school building, replacing the existing facility that no longer meets current health and safety or ADA standards. The bond verbiage also noted that the current facility is not energy efficient and that technologically needs to be updated to meet today's educational needs.

The bond issue said specifically, "Shall Frenchman School District No. RE-3 debt be increased by $9.57 million with a repayment cost of up to $18.8 million and shall the District taxes be increased by up to $840,000 annually by the issuance and payment of general obligation bonds to provide local matching money required by the State for the District to receive State Grant funds."

A total of 593 votes were cast from within the Frenchman District lines; 326 voted against the bond issue while 267 voted for 4D.

Moving forward, McCracken said the District still plans to apply for a BEST grant.

"We will form a steering committee to help determine if we move forward with a new building or renovate the current building," he said.

According to BEST grant information on the Colorado Department of Education website, all potential 2025-26 grant applications must notify BEST of their intent to apply by Dec. 15 of this year.

Established in 2008 with the signing of C.R.S.22-43.7, BEST provides an annual amount of funding in the form of competitive grants to school districts, charter schools, institute charter schools, boards of cooperative educational services and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. BEST funds can be used for the construction of new schools as well as general construction and renovation of existing school facility systems and structures.

During the November meeting, board members:

• Approved adding Braylen Feather, Whitney Chintala and Hanna Bjorelund as substitutes;

• Ratified the decision to cancel school on Nov. 6 and have a late start on Nov. 7 due to weather and to have early dismissal on Nov. 14 for State Volleyball;

• Approved overnight travel for an FBLA Industry Tour to Denver on Nov. 18-19;

• Paid an invoice to Northeast BOCES for $10,402 for annual membership fees;

• Approved 2024-25 bus routes including three routes that run in the morning and afternoon;

• Approved increasing the Capital Projects approval limit to $10,000 per unit for school administration. McCracken said the increase was a result of the recommendation from the Federal uniform grant codes;

• Approved a sick bank request from Megan King.