Lewis-Palmer board approves relocation of transition services to modular facility at Lewis Palmer High School

The Lewis-Palmer Consolidated School District No. 38 Board of Education on July 21 approved a motion to relocate the district's transition services program to a modular facility on the Lewis Palmer High School campus and to remodel the building using funds from the 2026-27 capital project contingency. The motion, made and seconded during a special meeting, passed on a voice vote.

Danielle Holmes, executive director of student services, described a multi-year collaborative effort to find a permanent facility for the program. "We've been collaborating to find a permanent facility for just about 2 years now," she said, summarizing staff, student and family input. Melissa Andrews, the district's director of planning, facilities and grounds, said staff evaluated a nearby modular building with outdoor space, existing ADA-compliant restrooms and a kitchen area that would support life-skills instruction. Andrews said the proposed footprint measures about 4,700 square feet while a prior spatial exercise identified an "ideal" program size of about 5,820 square feet to allow for enrollment fluctuations.

Staff outlined the work the district would perform: leveling an uneven floor where two buildings meet, repairing drywall, replacing ceiling tiles, installing a kitchen island and range, adding interior metal ramping, and replacing or repairing roof elements. Andrews said those items come in at "just under a $100,000" in preliminary estimates, far less than other options staff reviewed. She said district facilities staff would perform much of the build-out and that the remodel avoids requests running into the hundreds of thousands or millions.

Board members asked about scheduling, parking and transportation. Holmes said students in the program are present about "25 hours a week"; staff also described planning around a full-day model when appropriate. Andrews said the front section of the Lewis Palmer High School lot already includes accessible parking and ramps and that buses could drop students near the ramp. Board members also discussed involving students and families in naming and outfitting the new space and noted the presence of a greenhouse and nearby YMCA partnership for physical activities.

The approved motion was presented on the record as: "approve relocating d 38 18 to 21 to the modular facility on the Lewis Palmer High School campus and to remodel that facility with funds allocated from the 2026-27 capital project contingency to prepare the building for this use." The board voted to approve the relocation and remodel at the meeting; staff said they could aim to have construction completed by about Sept. 1, with an operational target of the second semester if that timeline is not met.

Next steps include formal contract or work orders for the remodel under the capital contingency and staff outreach to families about timelines and opportunities for input on room use and naming.