District 11 hires geotechnical firm after Jenkins students moved to Russell and Doherty

Superintendent Gong told the Board of Education at a work session that Colorado Springs School District 11 has moved Jenkins Middle School students into other buildings while crews investigate the cause of recent building problems and that the district has contracted a soils firm to help determine next steps.

The superintendent said Jenkins sixth-graders will attend classes at Russell and seventh- and eighth-graders at Doherty, and parents will be offered orientation sessions tomorrow evening from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. followed by school start for Jenkins families on Friday. “We have moved with great urgency to bring CTL Thompson on contract to be able to get that work for us to get that full report to our community,” the superintendent said, referring to a geotechnical survey subcontracted through the district’s Jensen Hughes contract.

The geotechnical work is intended “to understand exactly what has caused this,” the superintendent said, adding that the goal is to identify a root cause — for example, whether the problem is soils-related or tied to the building’s proximity to the creek — before the district discusses repair or replacement options with the public.

Why it matters: The district said the relocation affects students’ daily routines, transportation and school operations; determining whether the issue is structural, soils-related or otherwise is necessary before the district can safely return students to Jenkins or choose longer-term options.

District and school logistics: Board members and staff described operational steps the district took to move classroom materials and support instruction at Russell and Doherty. Superintendent Gong said both receiving schools were given extra funds to support the move and that school leaders at Russell and Doherty had assured the district they were ready for instruction. Parents who remain unsure about bus routes were asked to visit transportation tables at the orientation sessions.

Board directions and next steps: Director Carey asked for a public timeline; the superintendent committed to preparing a timeline for the board’s next work session and, once approved, posting it on the district website. The board discussed using expedited procurement protocols to accelerate next steps; the superintendent said the district would pursue faster procurement where allowed. Area Superintendent Darren Joyner and Chief of Strategy Nicole Autburn were named as district leaders coordinating the response.

Public information and community meetings: The superintendent said staff will provide periodic updates at future board meetings and in community briefings. Tonight’s community meeting for Jenkins families was scheduled at Doherty at 6:00 p.m., and parent orientation sessions for families relocated to Russell and Doherty were set for 4:30–8:00 p.m. the next day. “The goal for our parents is to walk your child’s schedule in those spaces and then ask the administration questions,” the superintendent said.

What the district is ordering and why: The district told the board it had added a geotechnical engineer survey provided by CTL Thompson as a subcontract to its Jensen Hughes contract to analyze soils and site conditions. The superintendent said the district needs that soils information to avoid prematurely pursuing repair ideas and to provide the community with a complete explanation of causes and options.

Staff and community response: Board members thanked district staff, volunteers and contractors for the rapid packing and relocation effort. One board member noted the scale of the operation — moving band instruments, copy machines and classroom materials — and praised staff and community volunteers who supported the work.

Open items: The superintendent said the district will return to the board with a timeline and additional technical findings after the CTL Thompson report is complete. The district did not give a date for when the geotechnical report will be released, nor did it set a timetable for returning students to Jenkins; those items were marked as pending and subject to the outcome of the testing and any required procurement or construction steps.