More than $4 million approved for capital projects in area schools over the next year

The San Juan School District will complete more than $4 million in capital projects over the next year. The projects were approved at the November 11 meeting of the school board.
The projects will include the installation of carbon monoxide monitors throughout the district. In November, 2013, a carbon monoxide scare at Montezuma Creek Elementary created a medical emergency for students and faculty.
The estimated cost of installing the monitors is $500,000.
An additional $600,000 is set aside for bleacher projects at the football fields at Monticello, Whitehorse and Monument Valley high schools. Funds for the bleacher projects come from a recreation levy.
Other projects that will be completed at schools in the district include replacing and repairing auditorium seating in the high schools and repairing or upgrading ventilation systems in the Career and Technology Education programs.
A budget was established to purchase land in Bluff for a new school, to replace roofs on teacher housing in Navajo Mountain and for new lockers, exterior lighting and exterior fascia at Whitehorse High.
Additional projects include remodeled locker rooms, auditorium ceiling and heating projects at San Juan High and redesigning the main office, restrooms and art room at Monument Valley High.
There will be front office repairs at Montezuma Creek Elementary and a technology infrastructure building at the district office.
The next series of capital projects was not finalized, but will likely include the new school in Bluff and a gymnasium at Montezuma Creek Elementary.
Attention will then likely turn to Blanding for work at San Juan High and extensive renovations at Albert R. Lyman Middle School.
A new school at La Sal and mechanical work at Monticello High may follow.
In other matters at the November 11 board meeting, a new calendar was set for the 2016-17 school year with an August 18 start day.
While the details still need to be hammered out, schools were given permission to draft funding proposals to the Original Americans Foundation, which was created by the owner of the Washington Redskins football team.
The foundation showed up at an August football game in Monument Valley and gave more than $30,000 in donations and equipment. School officials were not aware that a previous principal had requested the donation, so they were caught off guard by the donation.
Lisa Young and Spencer Singer, the principals at Tse’bii’nidzisgai Elementary and Monument Valley High, respectively, reported on progress at their schools.
Despite the challenge of low test scores, the principals report that students and staff are working hard and have an expectation of continued progress.