APS moves forward on $3.8 million design contract for Elorado High School gym

The Albuquerque Public Schools finance committee on April 23 reviewed a district purchase that would fund professional design services to replace the gym at Elorado High School.

Staff told the committee the design fee is $3.8 million and will be paid from capital sources including bond proceeds and the mill levy approved in prior capital elections. The procurement under review covers professional design work; the actual construction contract would come later.

Staff explained the project is being advanced to address longstanding Title IX and OCR compliance issues related to non‑comparable facilities for boys and girls in certain high schools. A presenter said the gym is the first phase of a multi‑phase rebuild intended to bring facilities into compliance.

"We don't have comparable facilities for the boys and the girls," a district presenter said, explaining that PE and athletics drive several of the facility design decisions and that the gym phase addresses those disparities.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the scope and funding source; staff confirmed the design contract is paid from capital bond/mill levy funds and that construction would be phased.

The committee recommended the procurement for placement on the board consent agenda.