Press Room

Sen. Schwartz Helps Sargent Open New School

Thursday, August 12 2010

RIO GRANDE COUNTY, CO-  

“Built in the 1920’s, our existing junior/ senior high school does not meet current health, safety, and educational standards…”

“…there is no fire sprinkler system or adequate fire alarm and the intercom is barely operable.”

“…there are mold and moisture issues in the basement level classrooms.”

“…The building is not safe for students or staff and has grossly inadequate, education space, accessibility, and energy efficiency.”

“The building does contain asbestos on every floor.”

“…there is not enough money to address all needs.”

(photo: Sen. Gail Schwartz stands in front of another BEST funded school: Sangre de Cristo school being built in Alamosa.  Sangre de Cristo was awarded more than $19 million in BEST funding in 2008-09 for a new PK-12 school.)

These are the issues laid out in Sargent’s BEST grant application in 2008. B.E.S.T, or Building Excellent Schools Today, increases the financial assistance provided to school districts for desperately- needed energy efficient, capital construction projects, particularly in rural school districts.  Senator Schwartz was a key sponsor of the 2008 legislation that created the BEST program and Sen. Schwartz worked closely with Colorado Treasurer Cary Kennedy on drafting the legislation.  Senator Schwartz was at the new Sargent school today to help them celebrate the opening of their new junior and senior high school.

Sargent High School, built in 1921, was in desperate need of replacement.   The elementary school was built in 1917 and needed renovations.  As the grant noted, Sargent School District isn’t just a school, it is “the center of the community” and it “has an even greater responsibility for the health and safety” because the fire department is 8 miles away and the sheriff’s office is 15 miles away.  Thanks to the BEST program, which Senator Gail Schwartz helped create, Sargent opened their new BEST-funded school today. Sargent represents just one of the 10 new schools built or scheduled to be built in Senate District 5 thanks to BEST financing.

“There is no better feeling than seeing all your hard work pay off,” said Sen. Schwartz.  “This community worked so hard on their grant application and worked so hard to communicate to voters about the need to invest in a new school.  This new school represents jobs, a quality education, and the heart of Sargent. I’m proud to have been a part of this.”

In the first year of grants, the BEST program handed out more than $76 million in grants, with nearly $69 million going to school districts in the San Luis Valley.  The first three schools built with BEST funding were responsible for creating more than 600 jobs in the San Luis Valley. 

There have been three rounds of grants and to date, the BEST program has handed out more than $356 million in grants to communities across Colorado.  Of those grants, nearly $154 million in grants has gone to school districts in Senate District 5 including funding new schools such as Sargent, Saguache, Delta and Monte Vista. Sen. Schwartz’s district has some of the most rural and most needy counties in Colorado.