FAQs

• Preschool, kindergarten and first grade at Centennial Elementary
• Second and third grade at Arapahoe Ridge Elementary
• Fourth and fifth grade at Hunters Glen Elementary
• Middle school (grades 6-8) at Shadow Ridge Middle School

Yes. Thunder Vista students will attend school at their new learning location from 8:00 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.

Yes. Transportation will be provided to/from all learning locations for those who signed up.

Yes. Information will be sent to current BASE families about options for their new learning location.

Our team is working closely with contractors to track progress. If we find that repairs aren’t progressing as expected and we anticipate extending the school closure, we will share that information with families as early as possible. Our goal is to be transparent and provide regular updates throughout the process. 

Throughout the process, our staff has worked closely with district teams to ensure students continue receiving the instruction aligned to their grade level. Lessons and instructional materials remain consistent with what students would experience in the Thunder Vista building. Staff are continuing to collaborate across temporary learning sites to maintain continuity and support smooth transitions for students. 

The experts hired to determine the cause of the fire indicated it was driven by shifting soils that damaged the electrical conduit in the crawl space. After the electrical conduit was damaged, the wiring housed within the conduit created an arc, which generated a spark.

The district has communicated regularly with Thunder Vista students, families and staff over the past several years regarding soil movement and repairs. Updates have been shared through letters and community meetings. 

Links to past communication are provided below for reference.

• August 2025
• March 2025
• May 2024
• May 2022
• May 2021

The district recognizes the added time students are spending in transit, and we’ve reached out to the Colorado Department of Education to explore what flexibility may be possible with state instructional time requirements. 

No, the smoke remediation work is focused on cleaning and restoring affected areas. These efforts will not meaningfully change the appearance, layout or character of our school!

The district is thoroughly evaluating the building’s air quality as part of our repair and remediation plan. We will share a detailed indoor air quality (IAQ) report outlining findings once we receive the latest inspection report.

Thunder Vista’s air quality was also thoroughly tested through an IAQ study conducted in March 2025. The results for that air quality report found that levels were well within normal ranges and showed no indication of adverse air quality in the building. This inspection was conducted by an independent certified industrial hygienist and includes measurements for natural gas, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and over 75 additional organic compounds.