They attended class for the first time in the high-tech, multimillion-dollar classrooms in the science/vocational education building.
"It's better," said Gus Noyes. "There is a lot more space."
Students have watched the $2.8 million, 11,127-square-foot science/vocational/agriculture building rise over the past year.
Students in Jake Gordanier's animal science classroom were excited Tuesday, mostly because it was warm in the welding shop.
"It used to be so cold in here," Noyes said.
Gordanier was happy with the ventilation system.
"This is a lot safer," Gordanier said.
The old building had no windows and was built with cinder blocks. It was torn down because its walls were failing, and because the walls were failing, the roof was unstable.
Buckets in the old building lined the top of science teacher Dave Hopcia's shelves to catch leaking water.
"I lost more books in that building," Hopcia said.
Hopcia was beginning to settle into his new room on Tuesday, and his students couldn't stop talking about the windows and the solar tubes.
"I like the light," said high school senior Olivia Wright.
Hopcia joked that he did have a window in the old building in the form of a crack.
"You could actually see through the crack outside," Hopcia said.
Voters helped pay for the improvements by passing a $3.5 million school bond in 2012, which coupled with a $2.6 million BEST grant.
Improvements also were made to the high school/middle school locker rooms, and five classrooms were added to the elementary school campus.
Dolores High School students were excited to have new chairs and desks. The science class also has new microscopes and lab rooms. In the past, there was only one lab room, and teachers had to schedule time in the lab.
Hopcia also like the new ventilation system.
"When we are dissecting in here, it can get pretty smelly," he said.
The elementary portion of the project, which added five classrooms, cost about $1.1 million. It added 5,452 square feet and connected the elementary school to the cafeteria and library.
Science teacher Peter Swingle was excited about his new classroom.
"It's not often a class gets to break in a new classroom," he said.
Two math classrooms were also in the new building.
Principal Brandon Thurston said a few more last-minute things are being done to the building, and teachers still had some boxes to unpack.
"Overall, the building is super-nice," Thurston said. "We are very thankful to the community (for passing the bond)."
The community is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new building at noon Feb. 6. There will be refreshments and tours.
