Steamboat Pilot & Today

The South Routt School Board plans to select a site for the South Routt Early Learning Center in April.

At a meeting Thursday night, board members heard a presentation from architect Jan Kaminski of Mountain Architecture Design Group, the firm contracted by the school district to develop site analyses, schematic plans and initial cost estimates for the new learning center. Sites in Oak Creek, Stagecoach and Yampa are being considered for the learning center, and though Kaminski and the learning center's board have recommended the Yampa site adjacent to South Routt Elementary School, the School Board has not made a choice.

"I'm glad we have two months to make this decision," board President Tim Corrigan said.

The board has that time because of a decision to apply for a construction grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs in August rather than in April, as the board originally intended. Applications for the April grant cycle must be turned in today, which Superintendent Kelly Reed said is too soon for a thoughtful decision on the site.

An application for the August grant cycle needs to be prepared by mid-June. The board decided Thursday that selecting a site in April will give adequate time for a grant to be prepared.

The School Board will convene a half-hour early at its March 16 meeting to discuss the three sites.

Thursday's meeting was the first for new board member Gary Miller, a small business owner and member of the Routt County Planning Commission who will serve the remainder of the District 5 term vacated by former School Board President Hank deGanahl, who resigned in November.

Also Thursday, the board accepted the resignation of custodian Hal Viele, who has worked in the district for 29 years and will retire at the end of the school year. Corrigan and several board members praised Viele for his service.

"Can we vote to keep him?" asked board member AlidaLee Gingerich, who -- with tongue in cheek -- voted against accepting Viele's resignation.

"I'm glad we have a 'no' vote on the record," Corrigan said. "I'll hate to see him go."