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Photo by Hans Hallgren

A globe sits on top of a pile of boxes that have been moved in a science lab in the new Craig Middle School. Everything has been moved in, and the south wing of the school is mostly functional.

Craig — Desks are piled up in classrooms and old computers sit dust-ridden in rows, but each room in the new Craig Middle School is beginning to look more and more like a functional classroom.

In the weeks since school has ended, the modules that once housed temporary classrooms have been removed, and everything from furniture to equipment has been moved into the new school.

"As of Thursday, everything has been moved everywhere in the district," said Joel Sheridan, Moffat County School District construction liaison. "Now, it might not be moved into the classrooms. Some of the stuff at the new elementary school is still in the gym, but everything is on site."

Despite ongoing rainy days, construction of the new middle school is moving forward as planned.

The old north side of the school was set to be demolished next week, however crews began to knock down several of the south walls Thursday.

Sheridan said few plans have been interrupted by the weather. A paving project and concrete work seems to be the only aspects of construction affected by the rain.

"There are a few things that we just can't change," he said. "But, there are places where we can hold off for a few days and let it dry off."

In the next few weeks, crews will finish the demolition project and begin to lay the foundation for the north wing, Sheridan said.

"Everything but the north wing is done and basically occupy-able," he said.

All of the administrators have moved into their new offices and can use the new computer network and technological upgrades.

Light years ahead

A small closet houses the brain center of the school's new technology.

Bundles of wires and fibers snake their way up the wall from the server, connecting the middle school with the district office on Yampa Avenue.

All of the school's information, including images from the security cameras, will travel by fiber optic cable to the district office, which can monitor the students' safety.

"It's light years ahead of what we had," Sheridan said. "I can just see the parents of fifth-graders smiling, because their kids will get to enjoy this for the next three years."

The new middle school has three pods. Each grade has its own area, complete with lockers, bathrooms, science labs, communal space and a mobile computer lab with 30 laptops.

The school is equipped with wireless Internet and SMART Boards, which are interactive, digital white boards.

When school resumes in the fall, students will have to wait for the north side of the school to be finished, Sheridan said.

During classes, construction will continue as crews work to finish locker rooms, an auxiliary gym and music rooms by Christmas break.

For the first part of the year, temporary locker rooms have been set up, and the band will practice in the auditorium.

On track

Aside from the middle school, all of the elementary schools have to be adjusted to accommodate preschool classes.

The new preschool rooms, which each have their own entrance and playground, have been completed at Ridgeview Elementary School are and nearly finished at East Elementary School. Adjustments at Sunset Elementary School and the new Sandrock Elementary School have not been done.

Although there is still a lot of work, Sheridan said the School District's construction project is on track and should be operable by the start of school in August.

"I think everything is in real good shape as far as the schedule is going," Sheridan said. "Short of a real disastrous weather event, I think well be done on time."