McKayla Bieser, Early Childhood Education Director shares her community’s journey to build a new preschool–12th-grade school. After an initial vote against moving forward—amid high construction costs and economic uncertainty—the community pursued the BEST grant again and received it for a second time. Residents then narrowly voted to approve the project, recognizing the need to keep local children and families connected to their rural community.

The grant covered 40% of the $66 million building cost, with the remaining funding supported by community tax revenue, including revenue from Colorado Gas and Oil and Laramie Energy. The school has expanded opportunities for students, strengthened school pride, and helped attract more families—all while supporting local access to preschool and childcare.