The Falcon Community Builders for Classrooms has been partnering with Falcon School District 49 since 2005. Created out of a financial need to help the district keep up with the growth of the community, they have been working together ever since to make sure the needs of the students are addressed.Sarah Brittain Jack, FCBC administrator, said the organization is the brainchild of Doug Stimple, chairman of the board of directors. ìThe district was growing leaps and bounds and the voters would not pass a levy or bond issue, so the district couldnít keep up with the growth,î Jack said. ìA lot of kids were being taught in modular buildings as there was no funding for additional classrooms.îIn 2003, they applied for a 501(c) (3) nonprofit status and contracted with builders who were active in the district. Jack said the builders agreed to sign a mutual donor agreement that imposes a voluntary impact fee on themselves, which is then donated to FCBC. This fee is calculated on a sliding scale based on what they are building. She said this approach is unique to the district and the area. She doesnít know of another program like this in Colorado or the country.They were able to start funding projects in 2005. Jack said, ìThe caveat is that money can only be spent on capital purchases, not on operations, maintenance, administration or teachers.îFCBC is run by a board that meets quarterly to discuss proposed projects in D 49. It is composed of three builder members: Doug Stimple, Classic Homes; Brian Bahr; Challenger Homes;†and Steve Neary, Copperleaf Homes, (he just resigned so he will be replaced); two members of the district administration: Brett Ridgway and Melissa Andrews; a member from the D 49 Board of Education, Kevin Butcher, and an elected official who represents the district, currently, Colorado County Commissioner Mark Waller.One of their big projects through the years included finishing the second story wing of Vista Ridge High School. Jack said it had been framed out but the district didnít have the resources to complete it. They also built an athletic complex on the grounds that included bleachers, turf, a press box and a scoreboard. She said throughout the years, they added turf and scoreboards at Falcon High School and Sand Creek High School. In 2019, they built a Careers and Construction building in conjunction with the Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs at Falcon Legacy Campus; and, in 2020, they currently have contractors paving the Meridian Ranch Elementary School parking lot, Jack said.ìWe work hand in hand with District 49 to do what we can to back them up,î Jack said. ìWe have been around for 16 years, have raised $9 million and have three new projects on the table for 2021.î Jack said all the projects are out for bids, so she could not elaborate.Kevin Butcher has been on the board for almost seven years. He is also a real estate agent and said the better the schools are, the better the community is and the easier it is to sell a home. ìDevelopers and sometimes builders get a bad rap, and the truth is they know kids are the future of our city, and we want well-educated kids,î Butcher said. ìThe builders also appreciate the fact that when you build a house, there is usually a few years before a mill levy comes through and the cash flow from that new house or development kicks into the FCBC funds, which helps because there always seems to be a shortfall of money.î He said, for example, the Springs Ranch developer made sure his builders participated in the program. When the developers encourage the builders to participate, it works really well.ìAs someone on the board of education, itís nice to know other people in the community see the value of education and are willing to voluntarily contribute dreadfully large amounts of money to help with the physical things schools need,î Butcher said. ìA lot of people think of developers and builders as evil, but in the district, we see them as great partners in education. We have a great community and people want to live here, and itís a fine line to balance growth and funds.î
