2024 BOND
On Thursday, Aug. 15 the Denver Board of Education unanimously voted “yes” on a $975 million dollar bond package for DPS. On Nov. 5, the package was presented to Denver voters.
Denver voters said YES to 4A and passed the 2024 Bond. We have a lot of work to do over the next four years to improve our schools, and we’re eager to get started! Thank you Denver voters!
2020 BOND: THANK YOU DENVER VOTERS! AN
INTRODUCTION TO NEXT FOUR YEARS
The $795 million dollar bond, approved by Denver voters in Nov. 2020, was allocated to fund physical repairs, improvements and the building of new schools. The 2020 bond created a busy four years for DPS teams, as they carried out the work of planning, designing and implementing the many projects funded by Denver’s generous taxpayers.
As the remaining work is finalized - please review a snapshot of the investments that have already positively impacted schools and students.
The numbers reflected in this report reflect work completed from the passing of the bond in Nov. 2020 through the end of calendar year 2024:
$800M
of $971M* of total 2020 Bond Proceeds* have been spent through December 2024.
*This number is inclusive of bond premium dollars. Premium dollars refer to additional dollars generated due to market conditions. They are voted on and approved for projects by the volunteer-led 2020 Bond Oversight Committee.
To see how the Bond Oversight Committe selected projects with the 2020 Premium dollars, please visit the DPS Bond website
MAINTENANCE
The average age of DPS-owned buildings is 56 years old. With 186 DPS-owned buildings, 7 leased buildings and 16.7 million square feet to maintain, keeping up with mechanical, electric, and plumbing needs is extremely crucial to the safety and well-being of students and staff. $208 million of bond funds are dedicated to making these critical updates, with another $129 million allocated to installing cooling systems in hotter schools.
24 schools have new cooling systems
36 schools received mechanical, electrical or plumbing upgrades or repairs
9 buildings receieved galvanized pipe replacement
NEW CAPACITY
Adding schools in areas of the city experiencing growth allows DPS to keep up with the evolution of enrollment demands. $71 million was dedicated to purchasing land with the intent to build a new school in the Far Northeast, and includes funding to expand ECE facilities throughout the city. $130 million supported the rebuild of the new Montbello High School campus. In addition, 17 acres of land were purchased for a future elementary school in the rapidly growing Far Northeast area of Denver. Premium bond dollars were allocated and used in the completion of Montbello High School due to inflationary construction costs. The Denver School of the Arts expansion was funded by premium bond dollars as recommended by the Bond Oversight Committee and approved by the Board of Education.
17 acres of land
were purchased for a future elementary school in Far Northeast Denver
4 buildings purchased on former Johnson & Wales campus to support the Denver School of the Arts expansion
One building, the Academic Center, is now operational and has been integrated as a learning space for DSA students.
450+ students and 333+ community members
were in planning conversations, community surveys and dialogue circles as part of the Montbello Campus redesign process affectionately dubbed Reimagine Montbello
RASA Elementary
The RASA Elementary building, formerly known as Ceylon, is the first ever fully-electrified DPS school. The program at RASA, Responsive Arts and STEAM Academy, is based on a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education model and is providing a world class education to students in the Far Northeast of Denver.
QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Some DPS buildings are 100 years old; others were built in the last 10. Investments in older school or non-traditional buildings help address facility deficiencies that may impact academics, logistics or culture. 133 schools are receiving funds totaling $31 million to improve key learning spaces as decided by school-based teams. Another $34.5 million is dedicated to needed improvements throughout DPS
21 center-based program remodels completed
7 athletic turf fields replaced
15 ECE
playground renovations were completed
133 school-determined investment projects completed
12 STEM/STEAM
labs that are new or have been updated
DCIS Adaptive Playground Groundbreaking Ceremony took place in spring 2024
The ceremony celebrated the completion of the student-designed and first fully accessible playground in the district.
Bruce Randolph Hydroponic Lab and Greenhouse
Interior scope (hydroponic lab) completed
Exterior scope (new greenhouse) construction in progress (scheduled to complete Spring 2025, weather permitting)
Career and Technical Education
received automotive program support through classroom renovations at CEC Early College that are now complete.
Legacy Options High School will receive classroom renovations for their construction program students and will break ground on the project during the summer of 2025. The project will be completed in time for new CTE students beginning in fall 2025.
31,439 pounds
Harvested from our new Food and Nutrition Services’ Glenbrook Greenhouse that received Certificate of Occupancy in June 2022.
TECHNOLOGY & SAFETY
21st-century learning and assessment requires student access to robust technology. Bond funds allocated to meeting the needs of all DPS students ensure that they will have the tech skills necessary for the future. Funding is also being used to update schools with high-quality video, audio and security systems to keep buildings as safe as possible.
In 2024, $5 Million in bond premium dollars were allocated toward safety initiatives. Bond premium allocation is itemized at the bottom of this list.
13,377 assistive technology requests fulfilled for students with disabilities
MyTech Expansion
• Continuing to support 1:1 Chromebook models at all middle and high schools
• Established a Hardware Repair internship program to certify students on Chromebook repairs and hired student apprentices
Assistive Technology Equipment Van used for delivery/pick-up to increase the time special education staff can remain in their schools working with students; delivers to 30-150 different sites per month
Assistive Technology Acquired
• CPens for students with reading disabilities
• Eye gaze devices for students with limited motor skills
• Updated hardware for students with vision impairments, including portable touchscreen monitors
• Strollers to support students with disabilities attending Balarat Outdoor Education program
Raptor Visitor Management system installed at all schools
Security Camera Refresh and Camera Expansion projects underway at all schools
Access Control System Expansion
All schools went under evaluation, gaps were identified and resolved
Data Center Computer Refresh
Added additional server and storage to support DPS software systems
Information Security
Added additional tools for identifying and mitigating malicious emails received by students and staff.
Customized Dispatch System
that includes GPS tracking and records management in production.
$5 Million
Bond premium dollars were allocated to safety initiatives per the Bond Oversight Committee, projects are in various stages of development.
Projects included additional funding for dispatch system and dispatch center remodels, new CSO radios, electronic key boxes and key tracking, new doors, and converting the main entrance at East High School into a secure vestibule that provides visitor control and management.
As of December 2024, dispatch system improvements and the dispatch center remodels are complete. CSO radios have been provided to all staff.
Projects still in progress include the East High School secure vestibule, electronic key
BUSINESS DIVERSITY
For over 20 years, the Office of Business Diversity has helped guide DPS’ efforts to involve diverse businesses in our construction projects. The program is the only one of its kind for a Colorado school district, and has helped promote diversity in construction and related contracting for various bondfunded capital improvement projects.
Approximately 30% of bond spend* is going to Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs)
*We anticipate at the end of this bond over 60 local women and minority-owned businesses will have worked on the bond.*
MILL LEVY INVESTMENTS
The mill levy helps fund the programs inside of the buildings that support our staff and students. The following programs were impacted by the passage of the 2020 mill levy override.
$29.5 million for increased compensation beyond Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
$3.1 million for increased mental health services
$4.1 million for increased nursing services
$2.1 million to support special education services
$11.1 million for charter share (required by law)
$49.9 million in total annual investments
KEY PROJECTS FOR 2024
We want to thank the entire Denver community who have invested in our schools through their active participation and interest in DPS and its success as an organization. Thank you Denver voters, and a huge thank you to the Bond Oversight Committee for your dedication to students and families.
7 schools
remaining from the 2020 bond composite ranking list for AC and cooling will have their AC and cooling upgrades completed this year
DCIS Adaptive Playground Groundbreaking Ceremony
for new accessible playground with student-led design in Fairmont neighborhood
ECE Playground Renovations
happening at 15 schools
Career and Technical Education
will receive program support through classroom renovations at CEC and Legacy Options
RASA Ribbon-cutting Ceremony
for new ECE-5th grade elementary school in the rapidly growing Far Northeast area of Denver
This new school is DPS’ first fully electric campus, and has been designed with a community responsive approach, innovative classroom spaces and an arts integration and STEAM model of education
Montbello High School Ribbon-cutting Ceremony
Dubbed the “Reimagine Montbello’’ project- a $130 million dollar bond investment in education in the Far Northeast- the new Montbello campus will open its doors to students in fall 2024
Denver School of the Arts Ribbon-cutting Ceremony
DSA will celebrate renovations on the Academic Center, 1 of the 4 buildings on the Mosaic Campus (formerly Johnson & Wales campus) that were bought by DPS to support DSA’s expansion
The new space will bring more students to DSA this fall
$5.5 million
bond premium dollars have been allocated to safety initiatives per the Bond Oversight Committee, projects are in various stages of development
Projects include dispatch center remodels, electronic key boxes, key tracking, and new doors
Closing the Chapter on the 2020 Bond
We want to thank the entire Denver community who have invested in our schools through their active participation and interest in DPS and its success as an organization. Thank you Denver voters, and a huge thank you to the Bond Oversight Committee for your dedication to students and families.
Gratitude for Team DPS
Thanks to the following departments - and to all of Team DPS - for their hard work in ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent in an impactful and equitable manner:
• Assistive Technology
• Business Diversity
• Choice & Planning
• Facility Management
• Finance
• Planning, Design & Construction
• Safety
• Strategic Sourcing
• Technology Services
