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There is a full-sized airplane hanging in the Tointon Academy of Pre-Engineering in Greeley.

Students and staff who will soon occupy the newest school in Greeley-Evans School District 6 only have to look up to the ceiling in the commons area and cafeteria to see the white aircraft above, complete with a working motor and tail lights.

From the ground, the school logo and mascot name — the Engineers — are visible under a wing of the plane. It’s decorated with school colors of dark blue, orange and green. The names of “Betty” and “Bob” are on the sides of the aircraft in honor of the Tointons, the school’s namesake family.

The plane, acquired by Tointon contractor Thomas Roche of Roche Constructors Inc. from Beegles Aircraft Service, will also be visible from lab spaces and a media center on the second floor — between the fifth and sixth grade section of the building and the areas designated for seventh and eighth graders.

It’s only one of the noteworthy features of the two-story, approximately 137,000 square foot pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade building nearly complete for the first day of school next month.

Tointon Academy is one of three major school projects in the district to open on time and on budget for the new academic year Aug. 11-12 for students in first through 12th grades. District 6 kindergarten students start school Aug. 16-17.

The other major school projects opening this year are at Chappelow K-8 Arts Magnet School on 34th Street in Evans and Greeley West High School on 35th Avenue.

The combined total cost of the three school projects is approximately $218 million for construction and soft costs, which includes furniture, technology and equipment. Funding for the work at the three schools — $136.6 million at Greeley West, $59 million for Tointon and $23 million at Chappelow — comprise about 55% of the $395 million bond measure approved by district voters in 2019 to build, renovate and upgrade schools.

Chappelow was a renovation and 28,000 square foot addition project, while the 280,000 square foot new Greeley West is what’s known as a tear down and rebuild.

The district will hold ribbon-cutting ceremonies and an open house at all three schools next month. For each date an invitation-only ribbon cutting begins at 5 p.m., followed by the public open house at 6 p.m.

The work has been in progress for about 18 months, including through the 2021-22 school year. The construction process mirrored the bond-related work at McAuliffe STEM Academy, which was completed earlier this year.

In both schools, the construction and renovation took place while students and staff continued to be in the buildings. Contractors worked on classrooms and sections of the schools with teachers, staff and students re-arranging rooms as necessary.

A highlight of the Chappelow project is the installation of a 342-seat performance hall that is also accessible through a new entrance. A digital video studio was installed instead of a smart lab, as in other District 6 schools.

“The technology is different here,” District 6 Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Kent Henson said Thursday morning. “The back of the school was a maze of classrooms (before the construction). Now it’s opened up.”

A new dance room is among the other new features of the school. The room was previously located in one of eight portable classroom previously on site.

Other work includes: the main office relocated to the front of the building along with a secure entrance. As part of the bond, all District 6 schools received safety and security upgrades.

Chappelow also received a new roof, new paint, carpet and furniture. Rest rooms were repaired and improved, new lights were added in classrooms and the cafeteria was expanded.

Approximately one-third of Greeley West’s nearly 1,700 students and about 30 teachers have already seen a part of the new high school. Twenty-two classrooms in the south wing opened for use after spring break in March.

The south wing houses career and technical education classes and physical education classes. The auxiliary and main gyms are in this section, known as the spine of the school running north and south. The entrance of the main gym (seating for 1,650) on the spine is decorated with wood from the gym floor in the old Greeley West.

More on the old school, which is slowly coming down.

Another key or prominent location in the new building is the hub. The hub is the main hallway of the building, accessible from the main entrance now located on the east side facing 35th Avenue. The hub opens into a bright commons and cafeteria space, full of natural light, and doors leading to outdoor seating overlooking playing fields on the west side of the building.

The new auditorium, with seating for approximately 650, has large doors in the back of the stage allowing for ease of moving sets. With its strong arts presence and background, the new Greeley West has a dance room, band, orchestra and instrumental rooms. There is also a digital studio with individual recording rooms.

On the second floor above the hub is the media center/library accessible through large, glass panel doors and individual study space inside.

From the media center, there is the view of the old Greeley West that opened in January 1965. The cost to build the 113,470 square foot building was $2 million, according to a Greeley Tribune story on the school’s 50th anniversary in 2015.

Abatement on asbestos removal is expected to finish Aug. 1, Henson said. The abatement must be completed before the remaining section is demolished. The main parking lot of the new school will be located on the site of the old Greeley West. The parking is expected to open Oct. 1.

The first non-replacement school in the district in about 20 years, Tointon will open this year with 650-700 students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grades, according to District 6 Chief of Communications Theresa Myers.

Students will be added the next two school years to raise enrollment to about 900 students in 2024.

Tointon was a busy place late last week. Contractors and workers were all over the building, finishing work in time for the start of school. Down a hallway not far from the Tointon plane, workers on Thursday crouched on the future gym floor. The installation won’t be complete until mid September, Henson said.

The building features open spaces, know as maker spaces, that will allow the Tointon students another place or area to support the school’s pre-engineering focus. There are four maker spaces in the school.

Classrooms upstairs, on the second level, are well lit with natural light and contain moveable chairs and desks. There are giant whiteboards in hallways where additional study and work may be held.

A full turf field in the back of the school will be used for football and soccer by multiple schools in the district.

Four kindergarten classes and two pre-kindergarten classes have space on the first floor. Those classrooms lead to a playground on the south side of the building.

Myers, the district spokesperson, said the bond projects throughout the district have been affected by price increases on materials. There has also been an impact on delivery of some materials, impacting completion.

Myers said any price increases are run by the district’s citizens’ oversight committee for approval.

“When you look at the whole bond, we’re close to being on budget,” Myers said.

Myers said time has been extended on some projects, initially thought to be completed in one summer but need additional time. Among these are:

Banners are attached to fences on 16th Street at Heath Middle School and Greeley Central, thanking District 6 voters for their commitment and investment in the projects. Myers said the banners have been up at schools since the passage of the bond measure.

“We want people to understand what they’re paying for,” she said.

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