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Enrollment booms at Bayfield school
Modular buildings added to deal with rise at elementary
Herald Staff Writer
Photo by NICK MANNING/Herald
Sean Connor of Brunson Builders, constructs a covered walkway between two modular buildings on Wednesday. The Bayfield school district has installed the modular buildings to accommodate unexpected enrollment growth at the town’s elementary school.
"We have had a lot of growth," said board Vice President Scott Kujath. "And we keep getting bigger."
Board members said they were prepared for the increase in students with the new buildings, but the number of younger students is much higher than they previously thought.
Even with the modular classrooms, there will be only two empty classrooms in the main building instead of the projected five, Secretary Bill Faust said.
Each class is about 10 to 15 children, he said.
Ed Morlan, director of the Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado, said the the increase in younger students is most likely because home prices are cheaper than in Durango, and Bayfield has built a lot of homes in the last couple of years.
"Plus, Bayfield has a good school district, and families may be moving out there to take advantage of that," he said.
The board said if the district needs to expand again, there is additional space to install another two modular units at the school.
The units were built in a factory and delivered about three weeks ago, project manager Marty Zwisler said.
The modular classrooms came equipped with rows of wood cabinets, many outlets and space for project supplies.
The school is waiting on the installation of a deck and some finishing touches before state inspectors look over the building, he said.
"These are really good buildings," said Zwisler. "These will last the district a long time and can be moved if they ever need to."
Teachers have already toured the buildings.
"The teachers ... are all excited to see who gets to be out in the modular," Faust said.
Zwisler said a new playground also is being installed and the school's entrance is being moved to the south side closer to the buildings.
Jason Gonzales is a summer intern at the Herald.
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