The First New School to be Built in 40 Years – Sleeping Giant School

When the bells rang for the start of a new school year last month, there was one more bell to ring in the Yampa Valley. Sleeping Giant School on the west side of town is the first new school to be built in 40 years in the Steamboat Springs School District. The property was part of a highly contentious public debate about the need to expand education facilities in order to accommodate a fast-growing community.

Two years ago, local voters approved a $79.5M, 20-year bond measure to fund investments in all existing SSSD schools and build a PK-8 school in the Steamboat II neighborhood. Almost two years later, many of the renovations have been carried out and the new school was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

For the first time, students could walk to school from west Steamboat neighborhoods. Enrollment is expected to grow exponentially as the school is centrally located within the city and county’s designated urban growth area.

In-School Learning Returns with an Enforced Mask Rule

Students across the district welcomed the opportunity for in-school learning again. The district enforced a mask rule, which was met with mixed reactions. In a letter to parents following the ribbon cutting at Sleeping Giant School, Superintendent Dr. Brad Meeks said, “Even with the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, if we continue to work together and support each other, I am confident that we will have a successful year and set the stage for continued success for future generations in our school district and our community.”

Preliminary Enrollment Figures for the School Year 2021/22

Official enrollment numbers in the Steamboat Springs School District will not be recorded until October, but the preliminary count is sitting at 2,584 students. The district hopes the final number will be closer to 2,600. The initial count is up from 2,546, which was reported at the same time in 2020/21. Enrollment was 2,617 in 2019/20. Online learning and homeschool students are not included in the numbers.