PEETZ, Colo. -- The Peetz Plateau School District unveiled its finished product Monday, a school with ties to the past and a vision of the future. 

In 2023, the Peetz School District unveiled designs for a new look and updated functionality. The design includes new classrooms, updated central entrance point, cafeteria and the hallways are straighter making for easier access to rooms. 

In October 2021, The school district announced it was awarded a $23 million BEST grant for school renovation.  

Monday’s Grand Opening celebrated the completion of the K-12 school. 

Shelby Hinchliff, architect for the Neenan Company, toured the finished product Monday. She was part of the design team. 

“I have been involved in this project from the very beginning when we started doing Master Planning in 2021, all the way through today here at the ribbon cutting in the very beginning of 2026,” she said Monday. 

She said the five-year process has had many challenges resulting in Monday night’s celebration. 

“It’s been a long process of planning, and grant writing and planning some more and design and construction. It’s so cool to be here today and see it as, as we imagined it would be five years ago,” she said. 

Business teacher Tracie Davenport said the new design for her classroom increases her classes’ efficiency. 

“It’s really exciting to have our own classrooms this year and to not have a bunch of equipment that we normally have in our classrooms. We have a CTE lab now that specifically holds our equipment, and students can work out of. So, it’s been really nice to have that and lots of room to have students do different projects,” Davenport said. 

Steve Meier, a Peetz High School graduate, noted how the school has changed for the better. 

“I think the changes have been fantastic. Hearing the improvements from when I went to school here kindergarten through graduation back in 1980, but it’s amazing what they’ve done, and created a great learning environment for kids and for generations to come,” Meier said.