Pagosa Peak Open School — the community’s first public, tuition-free charter school authorized by the Archuleta School District — has been collaborating with the Town of Pagosa Springs this past spring on a Community Development Block Grant application to help fund the purchase of the Parelli Building.
Pagosa Peak is a 501c3 non-profit that has been leasing classroom space in the former Parelli Horsemanship headquarters since 2017, and recently established an independent non-profit Building Corporation to purchase and manage the building. The charter school’s Building Corporation board has also been working with the USDA Rural Development agency, and received assurances that a federal loan could be arranged, dependent upon the receipt of a DOLA grant to cover a portion of the building cost. As a public school available to all Archuleta County families, Pagosa Peak receives annual “per pupil” funding through the Colorado Department of Education, and has been using some of those funds to lease three classroom spaces from the Parelli corporation.
The building has been on the real estate market for the past two years.
Ownership of the entire 38,000 square foot facility will allow the school to expand its offerings, and invite collaborations with other community organizations. The PPOS Board has already held preliminary meetings with Archuleta Seniors, Inc. to discuss ways that the charter school could possibly be combined with a senior center.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) supports economic and community development through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, by awarding grants to municipal governments. Earlier this spring, the Pagosa Springs Town Council voted unanimously to accept a grant award on behalf of the fledgling school. Late last week, DOLA sent a letter confirming the award of the full amount requested by the Town of Pagosa Springs: $600,000.
Pagosa Peak Business Manager Chenni Hammon summarized the ongoing vision of Pagosa Peak Open School:
“This is a great investment in our town. It’s the next step in purchasing the building and creating the community education center that we’ve been envisioning — a space where families, kids and adults as a central gathering place, where everyone can build on their education. A place that would be accessible in the evening, to use the educational tools we have, to hold training sessions…”
The school’s new School Director, Angela Reali Crossland, added to those thoughts:
“We’re excited about the potential for a multi-generational environment that might include everyone from Preschool to seniors. And I see a lot of potential, in the space that we will have, for that kind of community environment.”
Several steps remain to be completed by the Town and the Building Corporation, before the funds can be distributed. Here is the text of the letter sent to the Town on June 21, 2019.
Dear [Town Manager Andrea] Phillips:
The Department of Local Affairs has completed its review of your application for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the above referenced project. I am pleased to offer a grant award in the amount of $600,000 to assist in the purchase of the existing facility used by Pagosa Peak Open School. This offer is contingent on Pagosa Springs/Pagosa Peak Open School achieving the following by December 31, 2019:
- Completing and submitting the remaining CDBG application related documents attached to the award letter email, specifically the Assurances and Certification, Excessive Force Policy and Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation documents;
- The project will require a CEST (Exhibit IV-C) level of environmental review, based on information presented in your application…
- Completing and submitting the Signatory Delegation Form, if applicable, available in the CDBG Guidebook, Exhibit II-F.1; and
- Submission of a W-9
- The loan must be approved and providing documentation indicating both parties are in agreement to move forward with the sale
Upon completion of the above requirements, a Confirmation of Award will be issued and you can begin the contracting process with the Department. Award funds may not be obligated before a grant contract is fully executed. Expenditures made prior to the full execution of the contract will not be reimbursed by the State. Additionally, Federal regulations prohibit obligating or expending CDBG funds until an environmental review has been completed and funds formally released by the State.
Congratulations on receipt of this award and best wishes to you on the successful completion of your project. Please contact DOLA Field Manager Patrick Rondinelli at 970-247-7311 for more detailed information on how to proceed.
Sincerely,
Rick Garcia
Executive Director, DOLA
Pagosa Peak is still in the process of fundraising tax-deductible donations for the building purchase.
“We’re still seeking funding for our Capital Campaign. Private donations are definitely welcome,” said Ms. Hammon. “The more donations we receive, the more affordable the space can be, and the sooner we can create the community education facility we’ve dreamed of. We have received a $25,000 grant from LPEA, and we’ve received $1 million from a private donor.” The non-profit hopes to attract additional donations in the coming months, but the Pagosa Peak Board has determined that, with the DOLA grant and existing donations, Pagosa Peak will be able to afford the USDA mortgage payments even without additional fundraising.
Families with elementary age students are encouraged to contact the school to find out more about its innovate ‘Project-Based Learning’ educational model. Some grades have waiting lists, but certain grades still have openings for the 2019-2020 school year. Learn more at pagosapeakopenschool.org