Data Collection, Data Analytics, Project Management, Stakeholder Relations, Community Relations, Logistics

DLS West New Campus Project

With less than 7 months until opening, I was hired on as the lead project manager for the DLS West Campus project: a total of 12 classes would be housed in an old church building for three years. This campus would house approximately 300 Kindergarten through 2nd grade students, half of whom were new to the Denver Language School, and the other half of whom had previously attended the school's other campus. Approximately half of all these students had a sibling who would be attending the other campus. Challenges that were part of this project included:

• Buildout of spaces to ensure they could be used as a proper school, including office/counseling/nursing spaces.
• Operational systems that would allow for shared spaces, as well as 1st and 2nd grade classes to be housed on the third floor while the Kindergarten classes were in the basement.
• A 7-route bus system to transport students to and from school via the other campus.
• Systems for drop off and pick up.
• Co-habitating in the church space along with another school and a large church-run daycare, including shared spaces, daycare nap times, etc.
• All school schedules, including arrival and dismissal, 3-5 daily recesses, 3 lunch times, 4 specials courses per day for each grade, assemblies, etc.
• Emergency schedules and procedures.
• Staffing for Operations Team.
• Buildout of playground and temporary playground spaces
• Communications with stakeholders, including weekly newsletters, press releases, presentations, and a variety of meetings.

On opening day, the buses ran on time, all students were able to attend classes, and the space was successfully used for three years before a permanent building was found.