St. Vrain Valley School District officials are pleading with voters to approve tax increases in the form of a $189 million bond issue and a $16.5 million mill levy override so they can build new schools, compensate teachers and enrich curricula.

If the measures on the November ballot don’t pass, St. Vrain Valley officials have said they might have to close schools, lay off teachers, charge students to ride the school bus and slash extra-curricular programs.

The school board has hosted dozens of community-education meetings about the district’s dire need for funding, and an advocacy group has launched a campaign promoting support for the ballot issues. Still, some district officials have said they’re worried voters will say “no.”

Opponents have argued St. Vrain Valley hasn’t managed its finances in the past and can’t be trusted with more money; taxes already are too high; and — although St. Vrain Valley taxpayers never have approved a mill levy override — voters six years ago approved a bond issue to build new schools.

District officials also have said they’re concerned this year’s lengthy ballot — the longest in state history — will fatigue voters and cause them to skip St. Vrain Valley’s issues.

“But it’s imperative that this passes,” said Tori Teague, executive director of assessment and curriculum for St. Vrain Valley. “We’re as streamlined as we can get.”

St. Vrain Valley eliminated 85 full-time positions in the spring, and the district pays the lowest average teacher salaries among large Front Range districts. The low pay affects St. Vrain Valley’s ability to retain teachers, officials say. The district’s average teacher retention is seven years — the lowest of all Front Range districts.

Facility and classroom inadequacies in St. Vrain Valley schools are expected to worsen if the bond issue and mill levy measures don’t pass. District officials have said schools could be consolidated, increasing class sizes, and students could miss out on extra-curricular programs and art, music and language courses.

According to an advocacy group dedicated to the passage of St. Vrain Valley’s ballot issues, the district has a three-pronged vision, should voters approve the tax increases. District officials vow to hire quality teachers to lead smaller classes, promote rigorous and relevant instruction and programs, and provide modern classrooms in well-maintained buildings.

“We have gone so long with less resources than other school districts, and it’s come to a point where I’m not sure how long we can keep up,” Teague said.

St. Vrain Valley’s measures are part of a record year in Colorado for school district bond requests. In total, Colorado voters will be asked to approve $2.5 billion in school district bonds — more than double previous statewide bond-request totals.

St. Vrain Valley is among 25 districts with bond issues on November’s ballot — including a $453.5 million request from Denver Public Schools.

Growing student populations and aging buildings statewide are partly to blame for the many financial requests, according to the Colorado Association of School Executives.

Bruce Caughey, deputy director of the state association, said bond questions historically have received 90 percent approval during presidential elections. But, Caughey said, it’s unclear how residents will vote this election because of the economic climate.

“I know boards of education and superintendents struggled to come up with realistic requests to take to their local voters,” he said. “In times of economic uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to support learning.”