Publish Date: 12/2/2006

School officials: We're ready

Debbie Bell
The Daily Record

Construction in both local school districts has left Fremont County in the catbird seat as local entities work to bring relocating Army families here.

The November 2003 election saw voters in both the Cañon City and Florence-Penrose school districts approve bond issues to finance new school buildings and remodel existing facilities. The new Harrison School in Cañon City, hosting kindergarten through eighth grades, and Florence High School opened this fall to ease overcrowding countywide.

"We have allowed space in all of our schools for additional students," said Florence-Penrose Superintendent John Merriam. "As far as space is concerned, we are definitely prepared."

Merriam said his district could easily handle an additional 500 students since work approved by the bond issue has been completed. Voters supported the $22 million issue to pay for construction of the new high school and for improvements and expansion to the existing Penrose School.

In addition, Florence Middle School was moved into the former high school and Florence Elementary expanded into the space previously used by the middle school to create more space district wide.

Cañon City saw the same type of physical growth when its voters approved the $26 million bond issue to build the new school, renovate a portion of the Cañon City Middle School, and add on to Skyline Elemen-tary School and Cañon City High School.

Robin Gooldy, Cañon City Superintendent, said his district is ready for additional military families.

"We're certainly equipped to handle an influx of students," Gooldy said. "One of the reasons for construction in our school district with the bond issue was so we could better accommodate growth in the school district."

Like Florence and Penrose, the Cañon City system could easily accommodate an additional 300 to 500 students, Gooldy said.

"With the bond issue, we've put ourselves in a position to have more classroom space, K through 12," Gooldy said. "I don't feel too pressured or concerned about the possibility of military families coming here. We could accommodate them."

Merriam said the administration has been talking with school principals concerning the possible addition of Fort Carson students.

"We feel we're prepared as far as space is concerned," Merriam said. "As far as the transition of students from other places into our schools, we're not sure of all the issues relative to that but we're more than willing to work with them."

The school districts have been working directly with a community liaison at Fort Carson.

"We are pretty well up to date in terms of timeliness and expectations," Merriam said, "and procedures to make that transition successful."

Flo Orona, a local real estate broker who also is chairman of the Military Affairs Committee to recruit families to Fremont County, said local schools are in prime shape to attract relocating soldiers.

"Being able to send one's children to good, safe schools is one of the main ingredients to quality of life," Orona said. "Our schools are perfect."