MHTN Architects has been hired by the San Juan School District to begin the process of planning the new Monument Valley Elementary School. The contract was approved at the January 14 meeting of the San Juan School Board.



Representatives from the Salt Lake City firm outlined the process that they plan to follow for the construction of the new school. Planning meetings will begin in coming days to begin the process that is scheduled to result in the opening of a new school in August, 2011.



The planning process will take one year, with groundbreaking tentatively scheduled to take place on January 4, 2010. This would result in a 17-month construction phase.



Preliminary indications are for a school to serve 225 students and a staff of 20 in a 50,000 square foot building with an estimated price tag of $9 million.



MHTN representatives said that they plan to build a facility that will meet the long term needs of the community and reflect the spectacular setting in Monument Valley.



Funds for the project will come from a voted leeway approved by district residents in 2006.