Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety And Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District moves Jenkins students to Russell and Doherty after building concern; hires geotechnical firm
Summary
Colorado Springs School District No. 11 moved sixth-graders to Russell and seventh- and eighth-graders to Doherty after an issue at Jenkins Middle School. District leaders say Jensen Hughes is managing an investigation and CTL Thompson will perform a geotechnical soils study; the district scheduled family orientation and promised regular updates.
Colorado Springs School District No. 11 Superintendent Gong announced that students who attend Jenkins Middle School have been relocated to Russell and Doherty after the district identified a safety-related issue at the Jenkins campus.
District officials said the sixth-grade cohort is assigned to Russell and seventh- and eighth-grade cohorts to Doherty for the near term. Officials scheduled an orientation for Jenkins families from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. the night before the students are expected to begin instruction in the temporary locations; district leaders said regular instruction would resume the following Friday.
District staff said the move was executed rapidly with central-office and school staff, contracted movers and volunteers helping pack and transport classroom materials. Superintendent Gong thanked staff, families and community partners for assistance and said both Russell and Doherty were prepared to host students and begin instruction on schedule.
The district described its next technical step as a root-cause investigation. District officials said Jensen Hughes will continue to lead the overall investigation already under contract to the district, and CTL Thompson has been added as a subcontracted geotechnical firm to perform a soils and site study. The district said CTL Thompson will help determine whether the issue is related to original soils/installation, proximity to a creek, or other causes; officials said they want findings that identify root causes before the community begins debating remedies.
Superintendent Gong and other district staff said they will provide a timeline of next steps for the board and the public at the next work session and will publish approved materials on the district website. The superintendent said the district will explain the difference among design professionals (architects), construction contractors and procurement approaches in lay terms so families understand repair and procurement options.
Board members pressed for timely updates and a public-facing timeline. A board member asked staff to confirm that no families were intentionally removed from Jenkins’ communications lists; the district responded that families sometimes change contact information and that principals and the enrollment office were confirming that all Jenkins families receive notices. Board members also asked staff to advertise that tours and choice-window information remain available so prospective families understand Jenkins-related choices during the enrollment period.
District leaders said additional short-term supports are in place at Russell and Doherty, including extra funds to the host schools and central-office assistance with substitute coverage where needed. Officials also encouraged staff who still need support to contact school leaders for help arranging substitutes or other in-class assistance.
The superintendent and board described the matter as a high-priority safety issue and pledged expedited procurement and communication while the technical investigations proceed. They emphasized that decisions about long-term repairs or replacement will follow the technical reports and additional board deliberation.
Details the district provided about timing, staff and technical work are limited to the contractor names and the orientation schedule; the district said it will deliver a written timeline to the board at the next work session.
