The primary school in Florida Mesa organizes 2024 Bond -Kickoff

Students, 9-R employees celebrate prospects for a new building

The pupils of the Florida Mesa Elementary shook blue and golden pom poms when they were sitting on the floor in the gym to hearing plans for their new school building.

Durango School District 9-R held on Tuesday at the 2024 Bond-Kickoff event on Tuesday and gave the most important favorable pupil-the opportunity to find out about the future of her new school.

In November, voters passed a bond of $ 150 million in order to finance improvements in the entire school district, including the opportunity to finance a new primary school in three sources to replace the aging primary school in Florida.

The Kickoff event contained short speeches by members of the school board, faculty members and students. Everyone seemed to be enthusiastic about the view of a brand new building, even the kindergarten teachers.

“The whole reason is that they deserve it,” said Superintendent Karen Cheser when she spoke to students.

The adults in the room kept their speeches short and left the students a seat to express their hopes for the new school.

As part of a practical learning project, the fifth grade science class presented its visions for the building.

The moderators said they wanted a volleyball field that was built from environmentally friendly materials such as Cork, adjustable networks so that younger students could play and real volleyballs. The football balls and cardboard boxes that you use as substitutes violate your arms.

They also campaigned for a garden and an amphitheater outdoors and said that there would be more opportunities for them to learn and play outside.

The fifth graders said that they worked on their plans for several weeks and advised themselves with students from the younger classes, many of whom applied for the new school. For example, kindergarten teachers wanted unicorns and a petting zoo full of tigers, but their older colleagues rejected the ideas.

Shannon Morris, director of Florida Mesa Elementary, said that the school built in 1957 was long overdue for an upgrade.

“We can go into a new room that will be super exciting, super funny and a brand new era of Florida Mesa,” said Morris.

The event lasted about 30 minutes, and the students were sent back to their classroom after a guest appearance of the school mascot.

The project is expected to take 3½ years, and construction will probably start in the summer of 2026.

According to Rick Peterson, treasurer of the school authority, the planning will take many months because various stakeholders teams meet to discuss wishes and needs for the new building management and offer packages for contractors.

In addition to the construction of a new primary school, the approved bond will finance facility and maintenance updates throughout the district and may contribute to the development of staff apartments for 9-R faculties.

jbowman@durangoherald.com

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