School planning to be explored at WEDA meeting

By Gary Raham
Wellington Correspondent

The Poudre School District's dialogue with the community of Wellington will continue July 6 when school administration representatives, local school board representative John Fooks, and members of the Wellington Economic Development Association meet to discuss Wellington's rapidly growing student population.

This meeting evolved from a community/PSD forum on April 6 that looked at four "colorful" options for building future schools in the area. Scenario red, which would make the elementary school a split campus on existing school sites and require a new junior high elsewhere, demonstrated an early lead in popularity.

Bill Franzen, PSD's operations executive director, said they hoped to explore all four options and sketch possible construction timelines for the most feasible plan. Franzen anticipated that the planning would continue throughout the summer with the goal of presenting a proposal to the school board in September or October.

Alicia Durand, principal at Wellington Junior High, said that she and John Carbula, principal at Eyestone Elementary, would make recommendations for about 10 community members to participate on a committee to consider building options. These would include individuals representing the community, schools and parents who have "shown high interest all along and have worked in some capacity with the idea." One of the new assistant superintendents will likely lead the group.

WEDA chairman Doug Andersen urged all members to attend the meeting, which takes place at 7:30 a.m. at the Leeper Center in Wellington. "There are few issues more impacting to a community than the quality of its schools," he said. "Please be prepared to ask the hard questions."

Andersen praised Christie Brucher, a WEDA member, for helping to arrange the meeting with PSD administrators and continue the dialogue about Wellington's schools. For information about WEDA or the meeting, Andersen can be reached at 568-0456.