The old Miller building has been demolished, and the new building is lacking critical electric equipment due to the fire. As a result, school will still start as scheduled on Aug. 20; but Miller students will begin the year at temporary locations until the new building is approved to open.
“The Miller site was on track to be completed on time. The fire caused the delay and was an unexpected event that is disappointing for everyone,” said Chris Coleman, Chief Operations Officer for Durango School District. “Our construction and district teams have worked very hard in the past month to try to prevent a delay.”
He said the decision to relocate students was complex and hinged on receiving results from lengthy state and federal inspections. “Our hope was that results from various inspections would be favorable and we would have work done in time to move into the new building. The unfortunate results came back in July. Now we must quickly pivot and set up temporary locations for the start of school.”
A fire on June 16 at the construction site was minor and extinguished quickly. However, the damage to a critical Main Disconnect electric unit was a major setback to the completion of the new building. The Main Disconnect is a complex piece of equipment that powers the entire school.
Efforts are underway to establish temporary power solutions. A full replacement Main Disconnect has been ordered. It’s estimated the installation and inspection process, which will give temporary power to the building, will be completed no later than next week and that the building will be reenergized. Once reenergized some work must be rescheduled, such as commissioning of major mechanical systems. Currently, the district estimates that occupancy will be delayed 5 to 10 weeks.
To ensure the continued education and safety of our students, the district has decided on the following relocation plan. Affected staff and families will receive text and email updates leading up to Aug. 20.
- 6th-grade students: Classes will be held at the Impact Career Innovation Center at the Durango High School campus.
- 7th & 8th-grade students: Classes will be held on the first floor of the west wing of Durango High School, and students will be separated from 9th- through 12th-grade students.
- Elective courses: Some electives will take place at external facilities, including the Durango Community Recreation Center and Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Durango Fire Protection District and district officials have discussed the potential of arson, but there have been no conclusive results. It is important to note that causes due to electrical issues or lightning strikes have been ruled out. The fire may be classified as undetermined if there is not enough information to classify it as intentional or accidental.
“We apologize for this unexpected delay in moving into the new school. Our staff is determined that learning will continue despite these obstacles,” said Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser. “This is an opportunity for our entire school community to be resilient and demonstrate patience, flexibility, and understanding. We will navigate these challenges together.”
Please submit any questions you have about the fire or relocation through this online form: Questions on Miller Temporary Relocation. We will include answers on an FAQ website page for the public. We'll share a steady stream of information to you through every step of this plan.