Plans could be soon underway for the construction of three new elementary schools in the growing Denver-Aurora metro area if voters in November prove receptive to a $450 million bond proposal.
In August, members of the Douglas County School District Board of Education gave their unanimous approval to putting on the fall ballot a question asking for funding not only for the two elementary facilities, but also the expansion of two existing middle schools.
Plans for both the new schools as well as the expanded schools are a response to significant enrollment growth in a county whose population has more than doubled from 175,000 residents in 2000 to just under 360,000 today.
The big Douglas County School District is additionally the home to 89 school facilities of varying sizes and purposes, all of which would see some improvement should the bond pass.
The new schools, according to district officials, will go up in the Sterling Ranch, Crystal Valley, and Canyons neighborhoods.
Sterling Ranch is a newly developed community that is expected to be home to at least 33,000 people in the next several years. The equally new Crystal Valley has been enjoying a steady population growth and now has just over 32,000 residents, while the master planned Canyons community now has nearly 70,000 people.
The two schools targeted for expansion are the Sierra Middle School at 6651 E Pine Lane in the town of Parker; and the Mesa Middle School at 365 N. Mitchell in the town of Castle Rock.
By Garry Boulard
