School leaders are hopeful that additional funding measures will be approved for the new Montezuma-Cortez High School.
Montezuma-Cortez Re-1 School Superintendent Alex Carter informed school board members Tuesday, Jan. 28, that he intends to seek a $3.6 million Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant. The program is funded through lottery proceeds to promote outdoor recreation.
“I feel like we have a very good chance of getting the GOCO money,” Carter said.
If approved, the $3.6 million would be appropriated to building athletic facilities at the school. The grant requires matching funds, and Carter is hopeful the city might partner on funding if the grant is approved.
The school district has $1.8 million on hand to construct new athletic facilities, but shy of the total needed, the new facilities would not include lighting or restrooms.
Carter also announced there’s a slight chance, 25 percent, that $77,000 not used to acquire land at the new school could be transferred toward construction costs. If approved, Carter said the added money would be earmarked for instructional technology improvements at the new school.
According to Albuquerque-based architectural firm Dekker/Perich/Sabatini officials, 10,000 square feet in floor space was trimmed from design plans at a savings of $5 million. Current designs include a two-story, 152,500 square-foot schoolhouse with a projected budget of $33.7 million.
Expected to open in fall 2015, the new high school will be on a 35-acre site behind Wal-mart.
The current Montezuma-Cortez High School serves about 650 students.
The new school is designed for 725 students.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com