On the last day of school for the 2017-2018 school year, Mancos officials broke ground on their campus construction project in front of the student body and staff.
Superintendent Brian Hanson thanked those instrumental in acquiring the grant for the project and spoke to the new construction’s benefits to students and staff.
Colorado state Sen. Don Coram, R-Montrose, Sen. Larry Crowder, R-Alamosa, and Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, also spoke to the crowd.
Catlin commented on the politeness of the Mancos students he had encountered and praised their parents.
Mancos High School, built of sandstone in 1909, is one of the oldest continually operating schools in Colorado. “That says that you folks take good care of the things you own,” Catlin said.
Crowder spoke about the BEST grant and its benefits to schools across the state.
The groundbreaking was conducted in two parts to include all members of the school board and principals.
Bond Measure 3A, which passed in the Nov. 7 election with 72.8 percent of the vote, will increase the district’s debt by $4.95 million for the purpose of school building remodeling, to be paid off with increased property taxes over the next 20 years.
The district has already secured $19.7 million in a Building Excellent Schools Today grant, so the bond will cover the remaining costs of what is estimated to be a $25 million project.
