Centennial School District hires DLR Group to lead long-range facilities planning; advisory committee eyed for March 2026

Centennial School District on Sept. 24 formally began a long-range facilities planning process with DLR Group, a national architecture and planning firm, to review building conditions, enrollment and educational needs and to advise the district on options that could be placed before voters in 2027 or 2028.

DLR Group principal Karen Montevino told the school board the process will update physical condition assessments, review capacity and alignment with district instructional goals and center equity and community engagement as primary drivers for recommendations.

The consulting team said it will gather new data, interview department leaders, conduct school walkthroughs from an “educational lens,” update enrollment and demographic projections, and host workshops. Montevino said the work will build on the district’s Road Map 2027 goals and the 2019–2020 bond work, and will aim to produce a recommended plan in time for the board to consider whether to pursue a bond measure in 2027 or 2028.

“The long-term perspective really helps you kind of be prepared and set the cadence of the work that you do,” Montevino said, describing a schedule that includes data collection this fall, a larger round of engagement over winter and spring, and community workshops in the following academic year.

Superintendent Owens said DLR will coordinate with district staff and that the team intends to return to the board mid-process and again with a recommended plan in January of the following year. Robert (DLR) and planner-architect John Fulton will join Montevino on the project team; the firm will also coordinate with consultant Scott Rose for detailed cost and schedule checks.

Board members asked questions about timing, the advisory committee composition and how the facilities plan will connect to the district’s strategic plan. DLR recommended forming a facilities advisory committee in early March 2026 and emphasized outreach to affinity groups, students and families. Board members raised local growth concerns — including new housing on the district’s south end — and asked that the demographic and capacity studies account for recently permitted housing.

DLR gave a rough financing frame: a continuation tax scenario in the short term would be in the neighborhood of $30 million. Montevino and Owens emphasized they are not presuming a single funding strategy and said the facilities process will allow the board to choose whether to move into pre-bond planning, pursue a local-option levy for operations, or take other steps after the plan is finalized.

Montevino said the consultant team will coordinate with the district equity committee and use a mix of listening sessions, student-focused activities (including photo-voice and sound-meter exercises) and community forums to collect input. She said the firm’s intent is to “educate, engage and empower” the community and to deliver recommendations that reflect community priorities.

The board will be asked to name members to the advisory committee and to consider representatives from schools, families and community organizations; Montevino suggested board representation on the advisory committee so directors can follow the process. DLR and district staff said they will provide the board a firm schedule as dates are finalized.

The presentation concluded with board members encouraged to attend school walkthroughs and community events and a plan to circulate the proposed advisory committee calendar to board members for their availability.