Pojoaque board hears construction update for new Guadalupe Middle School; designers target winter 2028 building completion

Designers for the Guadalupe Middle School told the Pojoaque Valley Public Schools board on Jan. 14 that the project is moving into the construction‑document phase and that the team is "full steam ahead on the design." Juan Dorado, principal in charge with Deco Architects, said the district and design team have added contingency time for PSFA review and are targeting a five‑month period to complete construction documents and then begin bidding.

The design team said the current schedule places substantial completion of the building work in January 2028, with the remainder of site work to finish in time for the 2028–29 school year. "We're looking at a 5‑month completion time for the construction document phase," Dorado said, adding that the team expects to return near the end of that phase with 3‑D renders and contractor recommendations.

Board members pressed designers and superintendent about project costs and a narrow section of roadway that crosses adjacent Pueblo‑owned land. A board member asked whether the district faces a full 65/35 local‑state match; David Stewart, who led several clarifying questions, summarized designers' and state guidance by saying the district "qualified to be covered a 100% through stateside funding" for most of the build but that the small lease area would be the district's responsibility to pave or otherwise fund.

Superintendent Dr. Segura also reviewed design‑phase spending and next steps. She told the board the design‑phase MOU total was discussed with PSFA and that "in that split, we're gonna be covering about $1,200,000," and that the district had already spent about $700,000 on planning and design from bond funds. She said the district will submit construction documents, then a statement of financial position, and will negotiate a phase‑2 request to PSFA when contractor bids are available.

Designers described a revised site plan that keeps the building footprint but increases queuing for parent pickup, adds parking and provides a separate parking area for a school‑based health clinic so clinic visitors need not circulate through the main campus. Board members raised concerns about afternoon traffic backups, buses using the left lane and the need for an additional exit or merge lane; the architects said they increased queuing length in the plan and will explore an acceleration/merge lane and additional parking adjustments in the construction documents.

On water and utilities, the design team said the Bureau of Reclamation's regional water‑main timeline remains uncertain (the team cited potential completion "as early as the end of 2027" or as late as 2029). Because recent water testing showed elevated uranium, the consultants said they will include a skid‑mounted water filtration system adjacent to the tank so filtered water is available to students and staff regardless of regional system timing.

Designers also outlined life‑safety items — a backup generator, battery backup systems for critical IT and security equipment, and an FMS building‑automation system. The board discussed generator fuel type and maintenance cycles and asked staff to collect documentation that might support PSFA cost‑sharing on certain items.

Next steps: the design team will complete construction documents, present owner‑design‑review materials, produce final bidding documents and return with renderings and a recommended contractor selection timeline. The board and staff will continue discussions with PSFA on funding and lease‑area responsibilities before a phase‑2 funding request is submitted.