Trustees of Albany County School District #1 on Nov. 12 heard a detailed facilities presentation on using Vital Elementary to consolidate district offices and administrative functions.

Randy Wilkinson, who presented the room-by-room spreadsheet and cost estimates, said the top of the list includes “vital conditional use permit requirements” that total about $92,000 and are currently unfunded because the right-of-way sale to WYDOT that would have financed them has not yet been finalized. He told the board the materials show a projected total of about $3,440,000, with roughly $353,000 set aside as a 10% contingency.

Trustees pressed for clarity on what costs are essential and what can be deferred. “If you wanted to drop a million dollars quickly, tell me not to do the parking lot… and tell me not to do the FF&E,” Wilkinson said, describing options that would reduce the scope. Wilkinson also flagged uncertainty around mini-split HVAC work and the need to coordinate with WSP, the firm that installed the district system four years ago.

Several trustees said the board has not approved any remodeling budget. Chair Beth Bear and Trustee Cecilia Aragon both confirmed there is currently no board-committed funding for the project; Wilkinson said earlier estimates for the parking lot had been near $600,000 but nothing is final.

Trustees repeatedly asked for simplified scenarios showing trade-offs — what could be accomplished for $1 million, $1.8 million or $2.5 million — and for clear comparisons between using reserve funds versus waiting on property-sale proceeds. Trustee Nate Martin asked Wilkinson to provide “top 10” trade-off lists and concrete savings numbers so the board could weigh optics and priorities.

Dr. Goldheart, the superintendent, reminded trustees that proceeds from any property sale can only be used for facilities, not for employee compensation or curriculum, and said an interfund loan could temporarily bridge timing gaps if the board chose to act before sales closed.

No formal vote was taken on the project. Wilkinson recommended pausing the architect RFP and placing a cancellation or hold on next week’s board agenda to allow more discussion; several trustees signaled they want further work sessions and comparative scenarios before authorizing design funds or construction contracts.

What happens next: Wilkinson said architect proposals were scheduled for early December and described a path if the board approves an architect (five-month design, subsequent bidding and a potential contract award the following September). Trustees directed staff to return with clearer cost-option breakdowns and documentation of reserves and anticipated sale proceeds.

Ending: The work session moved on to other facilities topics; the board later voted to enter executive session to discuss real estate matters and took the public livestream offline.