CREJ

/ BUILDING DIALOGUE / DECEMBER 2016

BEST: Helping Rural Communities Build Schools

t’s difficult to open the pages

of Colorado Real Estate Jour-

nal or similar publications

without seeing an article or two

on the ribbon cutting at a new

elementary, middle or high school.

The growing population in Colora-

do – a number that grew by nearly

half a million between 2010 and 2015,

according to the U.S. Census Bureau –

brings many families to the state, and

communities are struggling to keep pace

with the influx of new students this boom

carries with it. While many newcomers

are settling in urban settings, many are

putting down roots away from big cities.

What’s causing the return to life outside

city limits? According to Jeff Chamberlin, an

owner’s representative with RLH Engineer-

ing, location-neutral job options are playing a big role.

“When you have access to technology, you can work

from anywhere,” he said, “and more families are mak-

ing the choice to move back to small towns.” However,

with that move comes the expectation that their kids

will still receive their education at a top-notch facility.

Gone are the days of the one-room schoolhouse. To-

day’s rural schools need to be competitive to lure new

families – and the economic boon that accompanies

the growth – to the area. When kids graduate high

school, they need to be workforce and college ready.

The rural schools being built and remodeled today

are very different than their predecessors. Simply

put, some districts in Colorado just don’t have the

bonding capacity to make the changes necessary

from a safety and well-being standpoint. In place

since 2008, the BEST (Building Excellent Schools

Today) program has been instrumental in pro-

viding a resource for these schools and enabling

them to make much-needed improvements or

build replacement facilities. “Many of the districts

that have been awarded BEST grants have histor-

Julie Lougee

Comm-

unications

Manager,

Haselden

Cons-

truction

ELEMENTS

Rural Schools

Terry Shapiro

Fort Morgan Middle School

Ron Pollard

Longfellow Elementary School in Salida also serves as a community gathering space.