RE-1 Valley moves ahead on bond-funded facilities project

RE-1 Valley’s bond-backed facilities plan has moved into the phase where promises start turning into plans on paper and, eventually, construction on the ground. The district is now selecting a design-build team for its BEST and bond project, a step that will determine how quickly work can begin, how tightly costs stay controlled and which repairs become visible first to families in Sterling and Caliche.

That shift matters because the project now has a major state commitment behind it. On May 21, RE-1 Valley was awarded an $8,388,952.44 BEST grant, adding to a bond effort that Superintendent Dustin Hunt said in January could bring nearly $10 million in matching funds if successful. For taxpayers, that is the point where oversight becomes more important, not less: the design-build team will help set the schedule, coordinate contractors and define how the district delivers on a voter-backed project.

The district’s facilities plan centers on long-deferred maintenance, safety and security, and better learning environments for students and staff. The list includes roofing, HVAC systems, plumbing, structural repairs, secure entryways, updated surveillance systems and classroom-functionality improvements. The proposal spans six facilities: Caliche Schools, Campbell Elementary, Sterling High School, Ayres Elementary, Sterling Middle School and the Hagen Preschool/Admin Building.

RE-1 Valley has spent more than a year building to this point. The district completed its Master Facility Plan on Nov. 5, 2024, then held a community meeting on April 23, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the Sterling High School cafeteria to discuss improvements and gather input. Families also saw the buildings firsthand during a districtwide facilities tour on Sept. 29, 2025, and a Caliche-specific community tour on Oct. 8, 2025. That public outreach gave residents a look at how aging buildings affect daily life before the district moved into formal procurement.

The procurement itself began on April 22, 2026, when RE-1 Valley posted a Request for Statements of Qualifications seeking qualified design-build teams for a potential large-scale facilities improvement project. That filing marked the start of the practical work behind the project: identifying the professionals who will help translate the district’s needs into bids, schedules and construction phasing. Because Colorado’s BEST program requires performance and payment bonds on awards over $50,000, the district’s next steps will also carry added accountability for contractors handling state-backed work.

Colorado’s BEST program, created in 2008, is designed to help fund capital projects for K-12 schools, especially those tied to health and safety. It also provides technical assistance during application and procurement, including RFQ support. With the grant now awarded and a design-build team selection underway, RE-1 Valley has entered the stage where residents can start measuring the project by milestones instead of meetings, and by visible improvements instead of future intentions.