Grant could help replace school

Facing serious hazards including sewer backups, vehicle crashes and security concerns, Alsup Elementary is among a select group of schools to win a state grant for school buildings.

The state Board of Education this week approved a $19.6 million lease/purchase grant for the school’s replacement.

Now the district, Adams 14, will have to provide $14.2 million — likely from a combination of savings and new debt — to cover the rest of the reconstruction cost.

“We’re really excited about getting a new school,” said Melinda Rios, a parent of two students, including one who will be a fifth-grader at Alsup this fall and a middle-schooler. Her children will not get to enjoy the new school, but her niece will.

“The principal had done a good job from the beginning of asking the parents what we felt we could change and what we wanted. We were kind of on the same page.”

Construction of the new building is expected to start this year for a possible opening in 2020.

Chalkbeat Colorado is a nonprofit news organization covering education issues. For more, visit chalkbeat.org/co.