craigdailypress.com

Parents will have to get used to dropping off their children at a different location at Craig Middle School this year.

Unlike years past, students no longer can enter the school using its southernmost entrance. Instead, parents will pick up and drop off their children using the parking lot on CMS' north end.

The reason: The southern entrance no longer exists.

Like the rest of the 60-year-old building's southern wing, the portal was demolished this summer to make way for a new facility paid for by a $29.5 million bond issue voters passed in November 2007.

New construction at the site is scheduled to begin after school starts Tuesday, said Joel Sheridan, Moffat County School District construction liaison.

A fence surrounding the construction area will keep students out of harm's way while crews are at work.

In the meantime, class routines will change during the 2008-09 school year.

Three modular buildings, each housing two classrooms, are set up north of the field separating CMS from the neighboring Craig Intermediate School. One of the temporary structures will be equipped with running water and a restroom. The fourth modular, located at the northwest corner of CMS, will contain the school's administrative offices.

A lack of lockers this year at CMS will necessitate other adjustments.

Middle school students will be allowed to carry backpacks with them during the school day. Some classes will provide two sets of textbooks - one for use at home, another for classroom use.

A daily homeroom class will allow students to store some of the materials they use each day.

"These changes will lessen the amount of materials the students have to carry around all day," the school district reported recently in a newsletter.

CMS student lunches will be served at CIS. Students will eat outside near the school as the elements permit taking shelter in classrooms when there is inclement weather.

A back-to-school night is scheduled from 4 to 6 tonight at CMS, 915 Yampa Ave. At the meeting, parents can learn more about the procedures school administrators will use during the 2008-09 school year.

Change will be a constant factor at CMS while crews proceed to rebuild the south wing.

"CMS is going to kind of be in turmoil for the full year," Sheridan said. "By the time we get all the new building built on the south wing, then we're going to tear down the north wing.

"It's going to be a constant construction site right up until the end of August of '09."

Bridget Manley can be reached at 875-1795 or bmanley@craigdailypress.com