PUEBLO — Plans to repair and rebuild aging buildings in Pueblo District 60 are moving forward and the big project on the table right now - constructing new high schools for East and Centennial.
This project, along with others, is made possible through the $218 million bond issue that passed last year. As far as Centennial and East - the district says it's still in the development phase, but that the two schools will follow the same floor plan.
Divina Walter said, "My whole family grew up going there and that's why I'm going there because it's kind of tradition."
This coming fall Walter will be a junior at East High School.
"This school means a lot to me."
She, like so many others, wants this Pueblo staple to thrive.
Dalton Sprouse, director of communications for District 60, said, "We're very excited to make improvements to several of our school properties."
Both East and Centennial will be rebuilt and designed to fit the needs of today's students.
Sprouse said, "Right now the concepts that we're looking at is what is important to a student's learning environment today and what elements can we incorporate? Things like natural light, open spaces, moving walls, walls that you can write on."
Initial designs include things like learning studios, common areas, science labs, a gymnasium, a 500-seat auditorium, and career and technical education areas.
Walter said, "I'm super excited. I am hoping that we can kind of represent each program equally...we're planning for a big gym. I'm hoping we'll have a good kitchen for culinary."
The district says the design process will most likely go through December of this year and then construction would begin in the spring. After that, it's looking at opening the facilities in the fall of 2023.
While Walter will have already graduated by then she says she'd love to come back.
"I'm kind of hoping that this new school can welcome many more families and generations to come just like my family."
Sprouse shared that a few community forums have happened to get public input on the design of the schools. The next one is scheduled for June 3.
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