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Board advances Palmer High renovation: $28.8M preconstruction phase and four adjacent properties approved
Summary
District 11 approved a $28.83 million modification to the Palmer High School preconstruction contract, plus the purchase of four adjacent properties to allow the master plan to proceed; construction logistics and community outreach were discussed.
The District 11 Board of Education approved a modification to the preconstruction agreement for the Palmer High School renovation and separately authorized staff to move forward with negotiations to acquire four properties adjacent to the campus.
The board voted to add $28,828,899 in early funding to the already-established Adelson and Peterson preconstruction contract to buy long-lead materials and begin enabling work needed for the master plan: demolition of the East Wing, relocation of cafeterias and administrative areas, and setting up temporary facilities so school operations can continue during construction. The district’s capital team told directors the contract modification will allow the construction manager to secure precast building components, demo permits, and other site work that must be in place before the main construction phase.
Facilities staff said contractors had secured a temporary closure permit for Boulder Street, which will be used as a laydown area for deliveries and generator and crane access; staff said the closure requires repeated 90‑day renewals and will be coordinated with neighbors. The renovation includes a new geothermal field for high-efficiency heating and cooling and a reimagined campus circulation plan.
In a related vote, the board authorized district staff to pursue acquisition of four parcels (219 E. Moraine, 2201 E. Saint Moraine, 430 N. Weber and 429 N. Nevada) to unify the campus and provide space for fields, staging, and future athletic facilities. District real estate staff said the properties currently house apartments and business offices and could be marketed at any time; board approval clears the way for appraisals and negotiated purchase agreements using capital reserve funds (not the Palmer COP proceeds).
Board members and staff emphasized extensive neighborhood outreach plans, archival work to preserve Palmer memorabilia, and coordinated traffic and safety plans. Superintendent Gall said the district will schedule community tours and additional stakeholder meetings; a ceremonial groundbreaking was scheduled and staff said abatement and demolition work will begin in June.
The contract and property authorizations were approved in separate roll-call votes.
