In the latest batch of ideas for future renovations at Bayfield Middle School, new athletic facilities and upgrading the east side of the building came to mind.
Bayfield residents brought up those areas with district officials and stakeholders on Oct. 29 during the group’s third and final workshop as part of the district’s master facility plan, according to a news release on the district’s website.
The group looks to build additional facilities for fitness, training and practice activities, which would have an estimated price tag of $9.8 million. The group also looks to build a new $2.5 million auxiliary gymnasium, plus new football and track facility that would cost between $2.5 million and $4.2 million depending on material costs, the release said.
The district is also looking at adding a new main entrance, an additional classroom and a new parking lot on the east side of the middle school, which would cost an estimated $17.4 million, the release said. The parking lot idea is notable because the issue of parking was mentioned during the September workshop.
A new common area and learning space were previous ideas suggested during the September workshop as part of a project worth roughly $12.2 million to renovate the school building.
“Our current bonding capacity is about $17 million,” assistant superintendent Bill Hesford said in the release.
The district is also exploring construction of a new Career and Technical Education wing at Bayfield High School. That new space would accommodate a welding shop, plus a science, technology, engineering and mathematics laboratory, the release said.
The district still looks to obtain a Building Excellent Schools Today grant to potentially cover as much as 35% of construction costs. Approximately $25 million may be available for short-term infrastructure improvements, the release said.
The district’s remaining bonding capacity somewhat limits the remaining 65% of necessary funds through a bond election.
The district will find out whether it was approved for that grant in May 2025. In the event the grant does not pan out, the district would seek a bond election in the fall of 2025 to pay for the costs.
“We know we have to do something at BMS, and we know student demand is for CTE (career and technical education), so those are the important things,” superintendent Leon Hanhardt said in the release, adding the district will release its next report in the coming weeks.
mhollinshead@durangoherald.com
