Voters will decide on hundreds of millions in funding for D-11

Colorado Springs School District 11 is home to almost 30,000 students.

The district hopes taxpayers will help them out with more funding in the years to come to educate its growing student body.

“It’s been over a decade since we’ve gone to voters for a tax initiative,” D11 spokeswoman Devra Ashby said.

The school board voted unanimously Wednesday night to put a $32.6 million levy and a $235 million bond on the November ballot.

The district knows the funds could be used for a variety of purposes including infrastructure improvements and to help hire additional teachers to reduce class sizes.

Tax questions are often risky and the district is aware this could be a tough sell. Eighty percent of homeowners in D11 either no longer have kids in school or don’t have kids at all.

“Strong schools, mean strong community and strong community means higher property values, it means less crime in your neighborhood,” Ashby said.

Barbara Buswell is the executive director of Peak Parent Center.

“Schools are so critical in our community,” Buswell said. “We’ve been really fortunate to have a great school. The children do well and it’s the best way you can invest in the future and in today.”