The Need

In addition to core infrastructure needs (roofing and HVAC) covered in the 2022 Bond funds ($5.3 million), the Bond Oversight Committee approved additional funds to enhance the learning environment of Windsor Middle through a renovation. This renovation will bring the school closer to the updated standards that currently exist at Severance Middle School and Ridgeline Middle School, ensuring learning environment equity at our middle school level for the next 10 to 15 years.

The Process

In October 2024, the Weld RE-4 School District solicited applications for the WMS Modernization Committee in the local newspaper and through our newsletters, emails, social media, and our website. Ultimately, more than 25 members — staff, parents, and community members — collaborated to understand the building, student and staff needs, and provide input on modernization, honoring the building’s history and modernizing it for the next generation of students. 

The Committee met five times, evaluating features at Ridgeline Middle and Severance Middle, working with architects and contractors to understand the possibilities, and obtaining perspectives from students and staff, including the Windsor Middle Student Council and the Instructional Leadership Team. The group worked to build consensus on a series of concepts, which were presented to the public for feedback on November 14, 2024. This important public input was incorporated into the final recommendation.

Highlights

At the December 2024 Board of Education meeting, the Board affirmed the WMS Modernization Committee's recommendations:

• Renovate the existing building, utilizing $10 million of 2022 Bond program contingency funds, in addition to the $5.3 million allocated in the bond for roofing and HVAC replacement

• Apply for a BEST grant, which if awarded, would match funds and extend renovation efforts

• Decommission the closed portion of the building