Rangely

School issues will highlight local ballots – Rangely

Rangely initiative would provide $15M for improvements to all three schools

RANGELY — Like anything, a school building has a life expectancy.
“They will tell you, a school will last 40 to 50 years,” said Dwayne Newman, superintendent of the Rangely School District. “We’re halfway there.”
That means it’s time to put some money into the schools to see to it the buildings will serve students well for at least the next 25 years, if not longer, Newman said, in explaining the school board’s decision to ask voters to approve a $15 million bond initiative Nov. 4 to make improvements to all three of the town’s schools.
“There’s never been any talk the buildings are unsafe or going to collapse,” Newman said of the schools, which are showing the effects of age. “We just need to do something before it gets that way.”
All three Rangely school buildings are more than 20 years old, with Parkview being the oldest. It was built in 1978. The middle school was built in 1984 and the high school in 1986.
“The buildings are ready (for improvements),” Newman said, who had been principal at Meeker High School for the past five years, before coming to Rangely.
Some of the school buildings’ problems identified by a facilities’ needs assessment have been caused by structural movement due to ground settling.
“As the building has shifted,” said Newman of Rangely Middle School, where he doubles as principal, “the metal roof has pulled away from the brick portion of the roof. There are places (where the ground has) dropped three to six inches.”
Newman cites cracked sidewalks and walls and water-stained ceiling tiles as visible evidence of soil settling and leaking roofs.
“It’s just a good thing we don’t get a lot of rain,” he said. “When things start to go, it’s time to do repairs.”
In a cost breakdown of the proposed plan, more than $5 million would be spent on improvements at the high school, nearly $3.5 million at the middle school and more than $2 million at the elementary school. An additional $633,332 would be spent on improvements to the bus barn, as well as three replacement buses, and $32,500 on general maintenance. The three buses scheduled for replacement are late 1980’s models.
Rangely School Board members originally were going to ask voters to approve $13 million, but settled on $15 million, with a $2 million contingency for unforeseen expenses, such as ever-rising construction costs.
“We have done our best to get accurate cost figures; however, we all know significant costs can be lurking just under the surface,” said Matt Scoggins, school board president. “Considering that the overall cost to increase from $13 million to $15 million would be less than $8 per year on a $200,000 home, it seemed prudent to make sure we have enough funds.”
The Rangely bond initiative would be paid by increased property taxes, the same as the Meeker School District proposal, with energy companies footing the bill for 80 percent of the repayment.
If the bond issue is approved by voters, Newman said construction would start next spring, with the work to be completed in 2010.
“That’s what the construction companies tell us,” Newman said, adding some of the interior work would be done during the summer so as not to disrupt classes.
Newman said the school buildings have served the community well, but, because of their age, it’s time to make upgrades and improvements.
“It’s a beautiful facility,” he said, pointing to the middle school. “They did it right. The buildings are very functional. It’s not an issue of they haven’t done a good job of keeping things in good shape. We just need to do some maintenance now.”
Even though it was before his time here, one negative Newman is aware of within the community is what happened with the Early Education Center, which the district moved out of and now leases to businesses. Before making that decision, there had been talk of closing one of the schools as a cost-saving measure.
“I have heard from the board that it was a difficult decision, and that there never was a consensus within the community about which building to close,” Newman said. “It was, from my information, a financial necessity. The district simply did not have enough students to justify that much space, or the revenue to afford the maintenance and utilities at all four buildings.”
One option, at the time, was to close the grade school, and move classes to the Early Education Center, which housed the district’s administrative office as well as the preschool.
“(The school district) looked at closing a building when the enrollment dropped significantly over a relatively short period of time,” Newman said. “The board considered closing Parkview Elementary, but because that would have meant splitting the primary grades between the Early Education Center and Rangely Middle School, it was not the best choice in terms of continuity of service and teacher collaboration.”
Newman feels confident the community will recognize the school district’s needs and support the bond initiative.
“I’ve only heard positive responses on the bond issue,” Newman said. “So, at this point, I’m very optimistic. I think most everyone is aware of the problems we are trying to address, and the other issues, such as buses and computers, are just logical approaches to the district’s needs.”

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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
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Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
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