Colonial SD construction update: CES restrooms open this week, furniture due March 10 and phased occupancy planned for April

Joe, a district facilities presenter, told the board that work on the Colonial Elementary School (CES) renovation and the new district office is progressing and that several near-term benchmarks are scheduled.

"We are now 100% windowed closed," Joe said, adding that crews installed casework, whiteboards and ceiling finishes and that the project is moving toward final inspections.

Key near-term items listed by facilities staff included: opening newly added restrooms at CES this Friday; beginning floor finishes in certain rooms immediately and likely next week; delivery of furniture for the entire first floor slated for March 10; and starting punch-list completion and final inspections by the end of March. Joe said the district plans a temporary certificate of occupancy for about two-thirds of the renovated space so offices and some classrooms can be used while work continues elsewhere.

Facilities staff said the district hopes to move the main office from the second floor to the newly finished first-floor district office over spring break, then to complete remaining work with the goal of opening the building to full use in April. "We would like to remove the tent wall and, like over spring break, move the main office from the second floor down to the first floor," Joe said.

District leaders discussed operational implications. The board’s budget staff highlighted that enrollment growth at CES will require additional teachers: facilities presenters said the school is expected to gain "90 to 100 kids next year," and finance staff indicated the proposed budget will include funding for four teachers next week. "If kindergarten enrollment is 500, then we're going to have to modify the budget," a district official said.

Facilities staff also discussed summer projects on a five-year plan: HVAC-control updates, auditorium lighting and carpeting, LED conversions where cost-effective, roofing projects previously approved, and asphalt seal-coating of parking lots after the asphalt has cured. On pavement, staff said seal-coating is best applied after about a year and the district uses calcium chloride rather than rock salt for winter work because it performs in lower temperatures.

Technology and move coordination were flagged as immediate tasks. Joe said the technology team is coordinating wiring and the installation of new all-in-one displays; furniture and data are on order and the district has several teachers piloting new classroom hardware.

No formal vote was taken on construction items at the meeting. Facilities staff asked the board to accept the project timeline and to note that the district will bring roofing and other summer-project numbers for approval in a coming meeting.