Dolores schools advance building plans as ICAP program moves forward

The Dolores RE-4A school board met Monday and received a progress report that the new high school’s foundation is nearly finished while moving forward on an education plan aimed at boosting student outcomes. The meeting also flagged a required Town Council decision after the building was measured slightly above Dolores’s 35-foot height restriction.

Matt Prinster, delivering an owners rep report for the Artaic Group, outlined the building project funded through the district’s BEST Grant. Prinster noted progress on the foundation and discussed the project budget and flood mitigation efforts tied to the site. Because the new high school exceeds the town’s 35-foot limit, the Dolores Town Council will vote on whether to approve the building’s height before construction can continue unimpeded.

The board also heard from Cheri Walker on the Individual Career and Academic Plan, or ICAP, which the district is adopting to give students more ownership of their academic and career paths. Walker told the board that districts using ICAP systems see higher attendance rates and higher GPAs, and that the framework helps students explore career and postsecondary options while guiding course selection and targeted supports to meet goals. The district is working through implementation steps to integrate ICAP into counseling and course planning.

A notable facilities discussion centered on a potential track and field as part of the building project’s master plan phase 1B. Board members reviewed rough cost estimates and agreed to gather additional examples before moving to a formal decision. Preliminary figures cited an eight-lane track with a turf field at about $1.8 million. Board members emphasized the need to determine budgeting, phasing and funding sources before committing to the next stage.

Other items included discussion of a flood mitigation grant that could affect the site’s long-term resilience, approval of a $475 Lego Robotics donation to the district, and an executive session to conduct the superintendent’s evaluation. The next Dolores school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m.

For Dolores residents, the near-term priorities are clear: the Town Council vote on height relief will shape construction timing, and phase 1B choices such as a new track carry meaningful price tags that will influence district capital planning. Our two cents? If you want a say in how this $1.8 million-scale investment and ICAP rollout affect school budgets, student opportunities and community recreation, show up for the council and board meetings and ask about timelines, funding sources and how the new facilities will serve students and local sports programs.