The Dolores School District and the recently hired Blythe Group, out of Grand Junction, are ready to get down to business.
Following the passage of the school bond in November and securing the BEST grant, the school district and the newly hired architects have a lot of work to do.
On Tuesday, Feb. 12, they will get down to business when the district hosts a design charrette.
The all-day charrette will begin at 8 a.m. in the high school library. From 8 a.m. to noon, the architects will meet with staff, students and the design committee to discuss what the new design of the school will look like, specifically the addition to the elementary school, the new science/vocational education classrooms and the locker room redesign.
From 1 to 3 p.m. the architects will discuss stainability and energy efficiency. From 4 to 6 p.m. the general public is invited to discuss the project with the architects at 7 p.m., the board is expected to give an overview of the project to the school board in the board room behind the district office.
During the entire process, Superintendent Scott Cooper said the students will be heard.
"We will also have students come through at times, so we can hear the voices of the students," he said. "This is a big gathering of information. This new architect firm is bringing forward some fresh ideas that we should consider."
Construction on the $5.9 million project is expected to start this summer.
"I'm really excited to hear from the community, the staff and the teachers and parents," Cooper said.
Cooper added that members of the community can stop by during the day-time sessions as well at the high school library.
Also Tuesday, the Dolores School Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. to discuss educator effectiveness, a school resource officer, drop out prevention, intervention support programs, social promotion within the middle school. At press time, the agenda was not finalized and is subject to changes.
