Ponderosa High School’s original culinary space was built with the school in the early ‘80s. Despite remaining largely unchanged during the nearly four decades that followed, culinary classes have remained some of Ponderosa's most successful Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. But some updates were clearly in order. Thanks to the 2018 Bond, those updates are now in place and making a world of difference for the young chefs at Ponderosa High School.

The Mountain Vista High School media team received an incredible opportunity thanks to the 2018 bond.

There is so much variety in Legend’s Engineering and Design class. Students learn the application of electronics and dig deep into CAD design.

Chaparral High School has been a Parker mainstay since 1996. Until recently, the same could be said of their roof and HVAC systems. This past summer 19,300 square feet of roofing was replaced. Also new up top you’ll find brand new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units.

At Legend High School, the engineering program is really taking off. Thanks to the 2018 bond, students are enjoying a brand new space with a lot of room for robotic car tracks and desktop workspaces. While there is plenty of trial and error with the machinery, one thing is clear: these engineering students are free to create and explore this new space thanks to the generosity of the Douglas County community.

Sometimes the biggest changes aren’t always easy to see. At Sand Creek Elementary, it starts at the top, where you'll see a new rubber-based roof system and new HVAC units. On the main level, the ceilings are full of new fire alarms and security cameras. These will help keep the school safe. Many other under the hood upgrades have also happened at Sand Creek. It’s all thanks to the voter-approved 2018 bond.

Learning about the human body from a video or a book has its place, but Mountain Vista Anatomy and Physiology teacher Jody Lanterna-Lewis will tell you "it’s much more fun, much more interesting, and much more relevant if you actually collect your own data and experience doing the activities.

Larkspur Elementary had a problem. Every time a storm came, water would flood just outside the kitchen area. This was, of course, bad for the foundation as well as any passersby. Thanks to the 2018 bond, Larkspur could afford some help. The area outside the kitchen was redone. New drain pipes now flow away from the building in multiple directions. It even brings extra water to the bushes in their outdoor learning space.

Rock Canyon High School has always been known for its exceptional Biotechnology program. Over the summer, thanks to the 2018 bond, Rock Canyon’s Biotechnology space received many much-needed upgrades such as new flooring and electrical upgrades, as well as a remodel of the cell culture room - check out this short video documenting the updates. These improvements are giving tomorrow’s scientists everything they need to succeed today.

Douglas County High School was home to many Career and Technical Education, or CTE improvements this summer. The auto, welding, construction trades, culinary arts, and agriculture program spaces were all renovated and/or expanded to include new industry-standard equipment. Each of these programs provides students with the chance to earn industry certifications and learn skills that will prepare them to enter college or the workforce. College credit can be earned in the auto and culinary arts programs. Funding for all of these projects was made possible by the 2018 bond.

Ponderosa High School has long been known for its Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings. Thanks to the 2018 Bond that was approved by voters, contractors worked over the summer to upgrade Pondo's facilities for welding, construction trades, and culinary arts. These CTE classrooms are now up and running giving students the opportunity to earn industry certifications and/or college credit. These CTE programs prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to be college or workforce-ready.

The extension to Castle View High School (F-pod) has been planned from the school's beginnings. The Douglas County voters' approval of the 2018 bond made the construction possible. Take a look at all that has gone into the design and construction of this addition that will serve Castle View's Career and Technical Education classes.

Highlands Ranch High School is getting a full-service cosmetology program and salon. This 1,600 square foot addition is paid for by the 2018 voter-approved bond. Students can learn how to be an esthetician or nail technician, and other related services. The program offers the opportunity to earn college credit and clinical hours.

Thanks to the 2018 voter-approved Bond, ThunderRidge High School is getting new career tech spaces to support construction trades and welding programming, the first of its kind in the region.

Thanks to the voter-approved 2018 Bond, Castle Rock Elementary has received many critical upgrades. Now it's time to replace old roofing finishes and the HVAC system equipment- both of which are the end of their life cycles. The HVAC system is being upgraded to improve air circulation, air quality, and efficiency, and the new roof will prevent leaks, which have been an issue at the school in recent years. These and other improvements throughout the school will welcome students back this fall.

Thanks to the voter-approved 2018 Bond, Clear Sky Elementary is getting new concrete slabs around the school. The concrete panels were shifting and creating trip hazards, and were also allowing water to go into the soil underneath. The project should be completed in time to welcome back students and staff for the start of school in August.

New tennis courts are being constructed at Legend High School thanks to the 2018 voter-approved bond. The old courts were becoming a safety issue. The new courts will include a fence, new windscreens and a logo.

Pine Lane Elementary is getting quite the facelift thanks to our community who approved Bond funding back in 2018. Renovations currently taking place include a new roof for the north building, upgrades to fire alarm systems, emergency lighting systems, and heating and cooling systems, as well as much needed restroom updates in the north and south buildings.

Thanks to the voter-approved bond of 2018, the front entrance of Douglas County High School is getting a facelift. The work is being done to accommodate proper ADA access, as well as to address some drainage issues.

Thanks to the 2018 Bond approved by Douglas County voters, DCSD's youngest students at Mountain View Elementary in Parker have a new playground.

Over the Summer of 2020, more than 30 Douglas County School District (DCSD) locations underwent capital improvements funded by the $250 million Bond approved by Douglas County voters in 2018.

On Thursday, May 28, 2020, Douglas County School District, along with partners at NV5, A&P Construction, and Eidos Architects, broke ground on the site of the new F-Pod addition. Speakers made sure to thank the voters of Douglas County for making this possible with the passage of 5A and 5B in November of 2018.

Former special education teacher Kristina Hilton is making waves as Northridge Elementary's first school counselor, where she works with students in developing resiliency skills and collaborates with families to meet the needs of a diverse student body.

Meet some of the counselors whose work is made possible by the Mill Levy Override. Ann Fitch, the school counselor at Gold Rush Elementary, is helping elementary counseling programs expand district-wide. She has been with DCSD for eleven years and now, as Elementary Lead Counselor, works to inspire and support the new counselors at elementary schools.

Meet some of the counselors whose work is made possible by the Mill Levy Override. From two small rural schools to Franktown Elementary, this North Dakota native is passionate about teaching kindness and empathy to the school's 349 students. Kayla is a newcomer to both Colorado and DCSD, but she's quickly become essential to her community.

Meet some of the counselors whose work is made possible by the Mill Levy Override.. As the school's first counselor, Dr. Alejandra Chavez-Stuart brings extensive education and experience to Iron Horse Elementary. She even uses her French Bulldog, Pierre, as a teaching tool for her students.

Six Douglas County schools received new flooring over the summer thanks to new local funding approved by voters last November. "I've been at Ponderosa for 30 years, and I've never seen the building look better!" exclaimed high school Principal Tim Ottmann.

Seven Douglas County schools received new roofing over the summer thanks to new local funding approved by voters last November. “The old roof leaked, causing us to have buckets all over the halls,” says Iron Horse Elementary Principal Kirsten Bloomfield. “It was also very unsafe for any district workers who needed to be up there.”

More than 300 smiling counselors, psychologists, and social workers all gathered for the first Mental Health Kickoff. Awaiting each attendee was a vibrant, colorful, glittering Calming Jar made by Kendall Meibos, an eighth-grader at Rocky Heights Middle School.

Thanks to those of you who have provided us with input about how best to keep our students safe. I want you to know we are listening to your feedback and will refer to it as we look to build upon our current, comprehensive safety plan. In addition to the research-based security protocols being implemented in our schools, I want to outline several steps DCSD is taking for additional security measures. These security enhancements have already been in the works thanks to additional funding made possible by the passage of a $40 million mill levy override and $250 million bond this past November.

Following the passage of the Mill Levy Override (MLO) and Bond initiatives this past November, I committed to providing the community with regular updates about how that money is being invested into our school district.

The Douglas County School District (DCSD) has sold $249,975,000 in general obligation bonds as approved by voters in the November 2018 election. The proceeds from the bonds provide one-time funds for capital needs such as security upgrades, facility repairs, classroom furnishings, buses and technology.

DCSD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Tucker provides an update on the MLO/Bond.