Board approves $750,000 design contingency to begin Jenkins Middle School repairs
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Summary
District 11 approved a $750,000 capital reserve transfer to begin design work for repairs to Jenkins Middle School after an initial structural report. The board directed staff to return with cost estimates once design options are complete.
The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education on Wednesday approved a $750,000 contingency transfer to fund phase 1 design work for Jenkins Middle School after the district's initial structural review found problems requiring urgent attention.
The motion, made by Director Bankes and seconded on the floor, passed unanimously by roll call. "We are moving quickly," Superintendent Michael Gall told the board, describing the transfer as an allocation to avoid schedule delays once engineers and designers are selected.
Nut graf: The board said it will continue engineering and geotechnical work and return to the board with design options and cost estimates; district leaders said they want to complete necessary repairs with urgency so Jenkins's students can return to their campus in a timely manner.
What the board approved - Motion: "That the Board of Education approves the capital reserve contingency transfer for $750,000 to initiate phase 1 of the Jenkins Middle School design project as indicated." (moved by Director Bankes). The board approved the transfer by roll call. - Superintendent and staff comments said the money will fund the design phase; a separate request for additional funding will return when cost estimates are available.
Key details and timeline - The district released Jensen Hughes' initial structural report; the district is still waiting for a geotechnical report that staff said is critical to final design. - The district opened an RFP on Jan. 30 and walked potential contractors through the building; staff said they might award a contract "as early as Friday" depending on responses. - District leaders told the board they aim to communicate any major impacts on next school year by spring so families have time to plan.
Board and community context Board members repeatedly described the Jenkins project as urgent and thanked staff and the community for supporting temporary relocations of students to other campuses while the work proceeds. The board emphasized that the contingency transfer is only for design; staff said further funding requests would return once design options and cost estimates are known.
Provenance: The Jenkins structural issues and the design transfer were discussed publicly in the board meeting and the board approved the contingency transfer on Feb. 5.