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$89 million in bond-money school projects under way in Gypsum and Eagle

Rebecca Schifanelli, left, and Ella Srholez take a turn leaving some artwork behind for Eagle Valley High School's groundbreaking Thursday. The tennis courts were painted white, like a giant canvas.
Randy Wyrick | randy@vaildaily.com |

3B Bond money

$144 million: Bond debt

$230 million: Total with principal and interest

Construction schedule and costs

Avon Elementary: Completion July 28: $1.8 million

Brush Creek Elementary: Completion July 28: $1.04 million

Edwards Elementary: Completion July 28: $2.4 million

Gypsum Elementary: Completion July 28: $2.5 million

June Creek Elementary: Completion July 28: $412,225

Red Hill Elementary: Completion Sept. 4: $1.6 million

Homestake Peak: Completion July 28: $3 million

Berry Creek Middle School: Completion July 28: $2.7 million

Gypsum Creek Middle School: Completion July 28: $1.8 million

Battle Mountain High School: Completion July 28: $847,243

Red Canyon High School East: Completion fall 2017: $1 million

Red Canyon High School West: Completion fall 2017: $4 million

Eagle Valley Elementary School: Completion summer 2018: $23.1 million

Eagle Valley Middle School: Completion summer 2018: $25.7 million

Eagle Valley High School: Completion summer 2018: $31.2 million

Red Sandstone Elementary: Completion 2019: $12.7 million

Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy: Completion 2019: $2.4 million

EAGLE — Catherine Jarnot was a bright-eyed Eagle Valley Middle School student when the current building opened.

There she was Wednesday, all grown up and in charge of the place, holding a golden shovel and turning dirt for the Eagle Valley Middle School groundbreaking. The $25.7 million project is scheduled for completion next summer.

Jarnot’s own middle school experience “made me want to come back here and be part of education on this campus,” she told the crowd of students and district officials.



As part of the voter-approved projects, the school district will spend nearly $50 million on its Third Street Eagle campus: $25.7 million at Eagle Valley Middle School and $23.1 million at Eagle Valley Elementary School.

Eagle Valley High School underway

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The groundbreaking tour moved a few miles west on Thursday for a groundbreaking at Eagle Valley High School. That $31.2 million project is scheduled to be finished next summer, as well.

At Eagle Valley, the tennis courts were painted white, like a giant canvas, and students spent part of the morning for their last day of school painting on them. Like most art, it will make way for something else, in this case a health-sciences center.

As they were wrapping up Thursday’s Eagle Valley High School groundbreaking, one student turned around and waved to the district officials and teachers.

“Thank you for our new school!” she said.

$144 million plus interest

In November, voters gave the school district the green light to borrow $144 million to build and rebuild buildings up and down the Vail Valley. With interest, the total comes to $230 million, the largest tax increase in Eagle County history.

Of that $144 million, the lion’s share will be spent in Eagle and Gypsum. On Wednesday and Thursday, $85.9 million in projects broke ground.

The Eagle Valley High School plan will add 61,000 square feet of instructional space, existing space will be renovated and they’ll double the number of parking spaces.

Along with health sciences and culinary programs, Eagle Valley will expand its automotive repair program.


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