Dear Editor:
Congratulations to Southwest Open School (SWOS) for their recent award of a $7.4 million grant for new facilities. Our community has won the lottery! Literally, the BEST grant is not taxpayers dollars; it is funded through Colorado Lottery and Colorado School Trust Lands money.
Nine members of the Capital Construction Assistance Board assessed schools all over Colorado to determine needs for School Construction projects. The findings showed that SWOS was in need of new construction to alleviate health and safety concerns.
Some people have suggested that the structures just need maintenance. No amount of maintenance will change these facts: SWOS consists of mobile structures built with 2x2s, aluminum electrical wiring, limited insulation, some asbestos, inefficient single pane windows and roofs that do not meet Colorado state standards.
These buildings will have to be replaced. They were designed as temporary structures with a life expectancy of 15 years. These buildings have already served students for up to 38 years, 25 of those years at SWOS.
There are other schools in line behind us to receive these funds if our community does not invest the 30 percent in matching funds. This is a bargain! Lets show the rest of the state that the Four Corners does support education. Please vote yes on 3A.
Cathy Marx
Cortez
Via e-mail
