The Denver Public Schools Historically Underutilized Businesses Council (HUBs) will formally pledge its support for the proposed November 2003 General Obligation Bond and Mill Levy ballot initiatives tonight (Thursday, Oct. 2) at the regular meeting of the Denver Board of Education. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the first floor board room of the administration building, 900 Grant St.

The Council is comprised of representatives from the African American Construction Council, Asian Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Contractors of Colorado, Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce and Women Construction Owners and Executives.

The HUBs Council was formed by the district in 1987 with representatives from the minority and women business communities. The aim was to affect the means necessary for increased purchasing transactions with the school district.

In a letter to Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, Manuel Gonzales, President of the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado, invited the Mayor to attend the Board meeting and “help generate positive publicity for the Bond Proposal.” Gonzales also stated that “approval of the Bond Proposal would not only serve the needs of our children, but would also provide business opportunities for DBE/SBE/WBE construction companies and suppliers.”

DBE stands for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, SBE for Small Business Enterprises and WBE for Woman Business Enterprises.

Mike Langley, Executive Director, Facility Management, acknowledged that with the support of the Council, the minority and women business communities have been instrumental in assisting Denver Public Schools in strengthening its leadership position in developing, implementing and pursing an aggressive policy that ensures quality, cost-effective projects while offering the maximum opportunity for diverse participation.

Langley also stated that “the inclusion and support of the MBE/WBE community and contractors in the 1998 General Obligation Bond program was a major factor in the success of the program which provided an additional new elementary school within the original funding.”

The additional new school is the Lena Lovato Archuleta Elementary school, which serves 490 students in far northeast Denver. The school is 59, 675 square feet and sits on 10.3 acres; the project cost was $9,379,011. This tenth school was built within the $305 million bond voters approved in 1998. At the time, the bond was scheduled to result in the completion of nine new schools (in addition to many other renovation and expansion projects).

For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 720-423-3414.