VISIONING MEETING SCHEDULE CHANGE
Several weeks ago, the district began a visioning process for Columbine Elementary and invited the community to attend a series of four meetings to discuss the future of the school.
It was recently brought to our attention that the next meeting, scheduled for October 8, conflicts with the Yom Kippur holiday. We have decided to cancel this meeting.
In addition, to assure this process is open, inclusive and productive, we are planning to restructure and possibly reschedule future meetings. We will post updates about this process on this website. If you want to receive information about the process, please give your email or mailing address to the BVSD Bond Program at laurie.clauson@bvsd.org or 303-447-5062.
The district is committed to this visioning process and to considering all input from the community. We are encouraged by the high level of community interest in the school demonstrated at the first meeting. If you missed the first meeting, we still encourage you to participate in the process.
Ideas from the visioning group will be forwarded to a design advisory team (DAT) which will be convened after the visioning process is complete. The DAT will include school community members such as staff, parents and neighbors and will be responsible for assisting with the structural aspects of the building.
If you are interested in serving on the DAT, please contact Principal Lynn Widger at 303-443-0792. Membership on the DAT is limited. However, meetings are always open to the public and there will be an opportunity for public comment at the start of each meeting.
Read the invitation to join the process sent to the Columbine Elementary community.
Project Background
Board approves change in scope for project
Over the past 12 months the district has been investigating the possibility of replacing the Columbine facility with a new building rather than renovating the existing structure. At its September 9, 2008 meeting, the Board of Education approved an amendment to the Educational Facilities Master Plan to change the scope of work for the school from a remodel to a rebuild. To support the change in scope, the superintendent recommended to the board that the proceeds from the sale of Washington Elementary be committed to rebuilding the school. Initially slated by the Capital Improvement Planning Committee for complete replacement, the rebuild of Columbine was scaled back to a significant renovation when the bond proposal was finalized.
Prior to the board decision, the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee reviewed documentation regarding the benefits of a rebuild of Columbine Elementary rather than a remodel and supported the proposed change in scope.
The Board of Education amended the Educational Facilities Master Plan scope of work for Columbine to read:
Facility Condition Assessment (FCA):
* No work is anticipated due to the planned demolition of the existing building.
Program Compatibility Assessment (PCA):
* A new elementary school will be constructed on the site.
With the addition of the Washington sale proceeds, BVSD would have more than $12 million available for the project.