denver schools may take on extensive system-wide air conditioning projects

Up to twenty public schools in Denver could see the construction and installation of new air conditioning systems, depending upon the fate of a bond proposed for this fall’s election.

Members of the Denver Public Schools’ community planning and advisory committee, in looking over a wide variety of facility improvement projects for the larger district, have decided on a list that will also include the possible construction of a new high school, playground upgrades, and the building of middle school science labs.

Committee members determined that all of the projects would require an $801 million bond, with $332 million of that figure going for air conditioning and related projects.

But whether that bond will actually appear on the November ballot remains to be determined by a majority vote of the DPS school board.

The twenty schools pegged for the air conditioning work represent a wide cross section of the city and include the Columbine Elementary School in the River North Art District; Grant Beacon Middle School on the south side of the city; and the Hallett Science and Tech Academy elementary school on Denver’s northeast side.

The Denver Public Schools system is comprised of more than 200 traditional, magnet, and charter schools. Of that number, roughly a third are currently without air conditioning.

While most of the school year in Denver sees relatively mild temperatures, the heat during the late fall and early spring months can rise to the mid and upper 70s.
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Members of the school board may make a final determination on the bond proposal this week.

By Garry Boulard

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