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Bayfield designs new grade school to be energy-efficient

District seeks top certification

A new school planned just south of Bayfield Middle School is being designed to meet LEED Gold energy-efficiency standards, Superintendent Troy Zabel said.

District staff members and the architect have been reviewing the list of requirements to qualify the school for LEED Gold certification, he said. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Certification is through the U.S. Green Building Council.

The district plans to seek voter approval for a bond issue in November 2016 to build the new school for third to fifth grades and do major renovations on the current elementary school built in the mid- to late-1980s. The district also will apply for a Colorado Department of Education BEST grant to pay part of the cost of the new school.

“We have to try to get the LEED certification to be eligible for the BEST grant,” Zabel said. Doing that “has definite ramifications on the cost of the building, but if we get 30 percent of the cost through the BEST grant, it’s worth it.”

Zabel said the architect is working with FCI Constructors to refine cost estimates as the district aims for the BEST grant, including what qualifies for the grant and what doesn’t.

Board member Carol Blatnick said the plans have to come together quickly for the BEST grant application.

Zabel said the application period opens in January, and applications are due in February.

“I think we have a good strong case, but there’s no guarantee. There’s only so much money in the pot,” he said. “It could depend on the number and amount of requests.”

The share of project cost covered by the grant varies by district according to each district’s assessed valuation and ability to pay for the project, he said.

“We have a very high assessed valuation, so that changes the formula for us,” he said.

Zabel also said he would be meeting with the Colorado Department of Transportation and Town Manager Chris La May about north side access from U.S. Highway 160 at the east end of town to reduce congestion at the Commerce Drive and Highway 160 intersection.

The 40 acres the school district bought for the new school were previously proposed for residential development that was stymied for years because of lack of access on the east end.

Oct 19, 2016
Ballot Issue 3B: Bayfield seeks tax hike to build schools


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