Sara Sandstrom-Kobi, Nederland.  Nederland Elementary School and Nederland Middle-Senior High School are getting some much needed updates. During the two week winter break subcontractors with be very busy at both schools.

At the elementary school the primary (first and second grade) playground has been taken down. Retaining walls have been built in preparation for a new playground and a new play area with boulder seating. Local business Gilpin Earthworks will be bringing in boulders to create a play nest. Come summer the playground will have rubber surfacing and be ADA accessible. Elementary principal Laurel Reckert says, “The updates will feature the natural beauty that surrounds our building.”

FCI Constructors’ Grant Frevert oversees all the construction at Nederland Elementary. Frevert says that he loves working at schools and that much of the job is being flexible with all the needs of the school.

It is exciting to see new paint and carpet in the first and second grade classrooms. Many of the projects are behind the scenes. This includes the fire alarm system, duct work and boiler system. The mechanical systems are outdated and need to be replaced.

Over the winter break when the students and staff are not in the building the main focus will be the library. The library will be getting new carpet, paint and ceiling. Also, the computer lab will begin to be transformed into a robotics lab. Frevert says, “We are bringing the school into the 21st century.”

The middle-high school building is significantly older than the elementary school and has been through several remodels throughout the years. At Nederland Middle-High School Dean Cinocco is FCI Construtors’ superintendent of construction. Much of the focus has been preparing for asbestos abatement. While the students and staff are not in the building over winter break the abatement will take place.

There is a lot of coordination between Boulder Valley School District, FCI Construtors, the individual schools and the subcontractors to make all of these projects a success. Cinocco says, “It has been great working with Principal Carrie Yantzer and Facilities Manager Dustin Richards.”

Work on both schools will continue for the next several months. It is impressive to see all the construction projects happening at Nederland schools!

(Originally published in the December 27, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)