After nearly 20 years of helping build up District 49, the work of the Falcon Community Builders for Classrooms is coming to an end.

During its first regular meeting of the 2024-25 school year, D-49’s board of education voted to approve the allocation of the remaining funds raised by the local nonprofit along with its dissolution.

“FCBC, has just been a generous and prolific partner, really, for over a decade,” Superintendent Peter Hilts said.

Formed in 2005, a coalition of local builders came together that has included Classic Homes and Challenger Homes as a 501(c)(3) in response to the burgeoning growth of the Falcon area and recent bond and mill levy votes that had failed while student population and needs increased.

As a solution, builders would set aside $1,500 per home to go toward a fund specifically for D-49 capital projects and classrooms. Over the years, projects have included the athletic facilities at Vista Ridge, the Meridian Ranch Elementary School and the trades building for the district’s Careers in Construction program.

The nonprofit raised more than $8.5 million throughout its lifespan.

”We were able to do some really neat things that materially advanced the cause of the district,” Classic Homes CEO and FCBC President Doug Stimple said.

FCBC worked consistently with the district over the years on identified projects, but volunteer engagement waned in recent years because of rising costs for construction materials and voluntary impact fees among other factors.

When the number of building companies volunteering dwindled to just two, the organization decided to end in 2020.

“We appreciate everyone who has ever participated in this because they didn’t have to,” Thompson said.

By the end of June, FCBC had more than $2.3 million remaining with its account.

“So, we met earlier this year to decide on what the remaining funds might be used for, and we decided on two projects,” Stimple said.

During the meeting, the board approved the final distribution of funds to go toward upgrades to the Falcon High School auto shop and the district’s central office grounds.

During a brief discussion before the vote, the work of the organization over the years was lauded by the board and administration.

“FCBC has had a consistent commitment to help the district fund things that are capital, that are tangible and that have a very long yield of benefit to the district,” Hilts said.