In 2008 Denver voters approved the Denver Public Schools Bond Program by a 2-to-1 margin to provide much needed resources for critical improvements in every school in the district. The $454 million bond issue was the largest ever sought by a Colorado school district, and now the largest ever approved.

To date, DPS has sold $150 million worth of construction bonds out of the $454 million approved by Denver’s voters last November. The first round of bonds was sold in March 2009 and DPS is anticipating returning to the market in Fall 2009 to sell another portion of construction bonds.

Did you also know that in 2008, the State of Colorado authorized the spending of more than $500 million dollars to fix Colorado’s crumbling schools?

Under BEST, Colorado will dedicate up to $500 million in capital construction for schools which will be matched with local voter-approved funds. In total, BEST will provide close to $1 billion to K-12 capital construction over the next several years -- the largest state investment in school construction in Colorado's history. It's anticipated that the combined state and local revenues will be enough to repair hundreds of existing schools or to build scores of new ones!

Come join us to find out how to make your firm available for these opportunities. With the funding already in place for these two programs, this will be an event you do not want to miss!

Ted Hughes, Director of the BEST Program, Colorado Department of Education

Ted Hughes joined CDE in 2001 to develop and administer a program to assist school districts, charter schools, and institute charter schools with capital construction needs. The program provided grants for projects to address health and safety issues, major maintenance, renovations and additions, and sometimes new schools. It also provided technical assistance to school districts and charter schools. Additionally, Ted applied for, received and administered a federal grant to assist with capital projects; Ted administers a federal “interest free” loan program; and Ted administers a charter school capital construction grant program.

In 2008, the Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Education, with input from the State Board of Education and the Public School Capital Construction Assistance Board, appointed Ted to be Director of the newly created Division of Public School Capital Construction Assistance, commonly called Building Excellent Schools Today or BEST. The BEST program will provide financial assistance to school districts, charter schools, institute charter schools, BOCES, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind for facility needs. In addition the division will provide extensive technical support, oversee the federal “interest free” loan program, the charter school grant program, and the full-day-kindergarten facility grant program.

While at CDE, Ted has visited most school districts and many charter schools to walk-through their facilities and is familiar with facility conditions statewide.

Will Quinby, PE, PMP, Denver Public Schools Bond Program Manager

Will Quinby, PE, PMP, became the Bond Program Manager for Denver Public Schools 2008-2013 Bond Program in August this year. Mr. Quinby has served in design, construction, and program management positions for the last 40 years. His career includes service in the US and overseas (Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Korea) as a Corps of Engineers Officer, culminating as Commander and District Engineer of the Corps’ Philadelphia District. In civilian practice, he was Qwest Communications’ Program Manager for their Nationwide Network, Director of Contract Management for KBR-Infrastructure, and, as a Global Program Manager for CH2M Hill, he was PM, Dredging and Excavation for the Panama Canal Expansion.

Mr. Quinby holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Engineering from the University of Alabama, and a Masters degree in Management from the University of Southern California. He is a graduate and former instructor at the US Army Command and General Staff College.

Will, his wife Deb, a Vice President at Qwest, and their daughter, Kimberly, live in Golden.

Sharon Gonzales, Denver Public Schools Manager of Business Diversity Outreach Program

Ms. Sharon Gonzales has been employed as the Manager of the Business Diversity Outreach Program for the Facilities Management division of Denver Public Schools (DPS) for twelve years. She administers Denver Public School’s efforts to make available to diverse businesses the maximum practical opportunity to compete with other suppliers and contractors in the competitive market place. Sharon has been instrumental in designing a concept through the DPS Business Diversity program that has changed the thinking of “doing the right thing” for diverse businesses.

Sharon has received recognition for “giving back” to the community by volunteering for many community organizations. Among her favorites are the; DPS Adopt a Family which gives families of DPS a reason to enjoy the holiday season and the Helping Other People Emerge Education Scholarship program which grants college scholarships to minority DPS students in need.