Board approves Palmer renovation contracts, charter transfer and budget changes; repeals equity policy

The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education held a lengthy meeting on May 7 that included multiple formal votes. The board approved contracts and budget changes, accepted a charter transfer application, affirmed a student discipline decision and repealed Policy AG (equity policy). Several votes were unanimous; a handful were divided. The list below summarizes each formal action and its recorded outcome.

Votes at a glance - Agenda adoption: Approved by roll call (unanimous). - Executive session motion (enter executive session under CRS 24-6-402(4)(b) and (h) to discuss legal advice and student discipline): Approved by roll call (unanimous). - Palmer High School — Contract modification C2025-1001 (Phase 1 preconstruction services): Approved. Recorded roll call: Director Bankes Aye; Director Carey Aye; Director Hafeli Aye; Director Jorgensen Aye; Director Malpakam Aye; Director Nelson Aye; Director Ott Aye. - Palmer-related real estate purchases (four properties adjacent to Palmer High School): Board authorized staff to negotiate and proceed toward contract/resolution; roll call approved: Director Bankes Aye; Director Carey Aye; Director Hafeli Aye; Director Jorgensen Aye; Director Malpakam Aye; Director Nelson Aye; Director Ott Aye. - Amendment to FY24–25 budget (appropriation levels): Approved by roll call (unanimous). - Colorado Military Academy (CMA) transfer application (charter transfer from CSI to D11): Approved by roll call: Director Bankes Aye; Director Carey Aye; Director Hafeli Aye; Director Jorgensen Aye; Director Malpakam Aye; Director Nelson Aye; Director Ott Aye. - Instructional materials and new/updated secondary course approvals (Spring 2025): Approved by roll call; Director Ott recorded a No on the overall packet vote; motion passed with majority. - Resolution 2025-32, National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5–9, 2025): Adopted unanimously by roll call. - Repeal of Policy AG (equity policy): Approved by roll call (majority; Director Ott recorded No). - Student discipline appeal (affirmation of superintendent’s expulsion decision for a student): Board affirmed superintendent’s expulsion through 2026-01-20 by roll call (majority). - Consent agenda items (minutes, personnel, routine resolutions): Approved by roll call (unanimous).

What the votes mean for the district - Facilities: The Palmer approvals (contract modification + property negotiations) clear the way for summer demo, precast procurement and the project’s next phase, and the district signaled it will use capital reserves to acquire nearby properties to support the master plan. - Charter portfolio: The board approved CMA’s transfer into D11 after review by the DAC and district staff and after hearing presentations and questions. The approval means CMA becomes locally authorized by D11 rather than CSI. - Policy and governance: Repeal of Policy AG removes that named “equity” policy from the district code; board members and speakers noted other policies (nondiscrimination, mission and vision, student opportunity policies) remain in force and that programs targeted by the district will continue under existing procedures and site-based budgeting. - Budget and compensation: The FY24–25 appropriation adjustments were adopted and the board discussed (non-voted at this meeting) ongoing steps to keep money focused in classrooms and to the employee handbook and compensation package negotiated this year.

Provenance (transcript evidence) - Topic intro: transcript block starting at s=46.754997 (agenda adoption and roll call); evidence excerpt: "I move that the Board of Education adopts the agenda as presented." (topicintro) - Topic finish: transcript block starting at s=15857.615 (student discipline action roll call); evidence excerpt: "I move that the board of education affirms the decision of the superintendent to expel student a until 01/20/2026." (topicfinish)

Notes: The board recorded roll calls for each action and adopted resolutions and contract authorizations as summarized above. The Vote-at-a-glance consolidates outcomes of every formal action shown on the meeting record.