The Lone Tree Community School District has begun the process of a facilities evaluation ahead of a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) renewal election in November.

On Wednesday, the district began the process with a community meeting with its facilities committee to discuss the district’s wants and needs in terms of how it should use PPEL funds. Over the past several years, the district’s main priority has been an upgrade of its HVAC system, a process which is ongoing. In the near future, the district is hoping to build a greenhouse, which could go to a bond issue in 2026. The district wants to identify needs in six areas for the next decade beyond those two projects: safety  and security, classrooms and student spaces, athletics and fine arts, technology, energy efficiency, and community use.

Lone Tree Superintendent Tyler Hotz explained why he felt it was important, “It’s an opportunity to reach people where they’re at and give them information that they need and they can ask questions to gather more information. It also builds buy-in, because now people have input on these things. Obviously it’s taxpayer funds dollars paying for a lot of these projects, we need to make sure we’re being transparent with everyone in the community about, ‘These are the funds we’re spending and this is why we’re spending it.’”

Administration will also meet with school staff and the student council before bringing the findings to the school board in October. The district plans to then research and analyze the potential costs of projects and hold a second round of meetings early next year.

The district’s proposal in November maintains its current maximum PPEL rate of 67 cents.