The Greene County School District is working on finalizing plans to build an addition onto the elementary school in Jefferson.

Superintendent Tim Christensen explains the details of the project.

“The addition essentially would be a pod of four classrooms, actually an office as well for a secure entrance, restroom facility (and) also a drop off drive in front of the building to make the drop off and pick up a little better too. It’s the same thing that was going to be if the bond issue passed.”

    The $1.4 million project came after a six to one approval vote by the School Board on November 9th to close the intermediate building in Grand Junction. The District’s certified enrollment declined by 50 students, which is a $330,000 deficit in the general fund. By closing the intermediate building, the District is projected to save $333,111 in the general fund. Christensen says the funds that will be used for the elementary addition are from the one cent sales tax and the physical plant and equipment levy.

The School Board additionally voted to purchase the former National Guard Armory building from Greene County for $250,000 for a new bus barn. Funds for that purchase will also come from PPEL funds, which Christensen points out that they have enough money in the account to purchase the armory and build onto the elementary school.

“Yes, between the funds we have on-hand and the funds that we will continue to get through one cent sales tax, we’ll be able to fund both projects.”

The elementary school will then house pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, while the middle school will have fifth through eighth grade. Plans at the middle school are to have portable classrooms for the additional students.

The District is working with the architects on the finalized plans with bids for the elementary addition to go out by early next year and is anticipated to be completed before the start of the 2017-18 school year.