Construction is set to begin this summer on a new Monticello Elementary School. At the February 12 meeting, the school board approved a construction budget. The total bid for the project is $10.7 million. School district business manger Clayton Holt said that this includes a contingency fund that may not be needed.

The project bids came in approximately $500,000 over the estimated cost.

Holt said a number of cuts were made during the value engineering process to “cut without compromising the design.”

Construction on the facility is set to begin in earnest this summer. Extensive earth-moving operations took place in the fall of 2012. Students are expected to occupy the new building in August, 2014.

The new school is the latest in a series of capital projects throughout the school district. Remodeling projects have been completed at San Juan, Whitehorse, Monument Valley and Monticello high schools. In addition, in Monument Valley several homes for school employees were built and Tse’bii’nidzisgai Elementary School was built.

In other matters, district personnel reported on progress at San Juan High School. An arson fire on November 17, 2012 completely destroyed the school library and damaged several classrooms.

Total cost of the project is $1.6 million, and includes the replacement of books in the library. Crews are completing several classrooms. They will move in over Spring Break.

A new roof has been installed at the library and work is progressing.