Roosevelt Middle School’s staff seamlessly transitioned 700 students from their former middle school location into a newly renovated space over winter break.
In 2020, Johnstown and Milliken community members passed a bond for renovations in the Weld County School District RE-5J, including constructing a new Roosevelt High School, which opened in August 2023.
Members of the RE-5J School district cut the ribbon on the new Roosevelt Middle School during an open house on Thursday in Johnstown.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)During the project, the district decided to repurpose the vacant former high school site at 626 N 2nd St. in Johnstown into a middle school, to prepare for future growth.
On Thursday evening, the community converged for an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the project’s fruition. The building upgrades included 94,000 square feet of renovation and 22,000 square feet of new construction.
Planning for the Roosevelt Middle School project began in January 2022 with the formation of a design advisory group comprised of administrators, teachers and community members, according to Aspen Calvillo, the principal of Roosevelt Middle School.
People walk inside the newly renovated Roosevelt Middle School gymnasium during an open house on Thursday in Johnstown.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)The group selected core values to create a campus welcoming, including promoting collaboration and community, showcasing the selection of electives and career and technical education and ensuring an accessible, inclusive and safe building, Calvillo said.
With Building Excellent Schools Today grant funding, project partners — Adolfson & Peterson Construction, Treanor and Accenture — helped bring the community’s vision to light. At Thursday’s celebration, Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young discussed the critical role of the grant program, which provides funding to school districts for construction and renovation needs.
Under the program, the state treasury matches the amount raised by the local community, Young explained. For the Weld RE-5J project, about $20 million came from the bond issue, while the state financed another $20 million.
People gather inside the new commons area of the Roosevelt Middle School during an open house on Thursday.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Visitors stepped into the renovated space Thursday to see a new entry, administration area and dining commons — crafted to increase connectivity and natural daylight. The new central hub also brings career and technical education programs, including an agricultural growing space and a built-in robotics arena, into high-visibility areas.
Construction also added amenities found in high school settings, like a spacious auditorium, a wrestling room, a football field and a running track.
“Roosevelt Middle School is more than just a new or a repurposed building, it is a testament to the power of renewal and growth,” Superintendent Scott Nielsen said. “By transforming this site, we’re preserving its rich history while adapting it to meet the needs of our students in a modern, dynamic world. This is where the past meets the future.”
Honor history, future-focused
The ribbon-cutting, although “a symbol of new beginnings,” aimed to reflect the history of the site that was previously the home of Roosevelt High School, according to Nielsen. He acknowledged the former high school’s role in shaping the lives of past students and staff, who filled the hallways with laughter, learning and dreams.
“We honor not only the new chapter this building represents but also the legacy that continues within these walls,” he said. “We breathe new life into this beloved space, ensuring its stories continue for generations to come.”
Along with upholding the significance of Weld RE-5J history, the school district needed to consider who the school was built for: current and future middle schoolers. Roosevelt Middle School can house up to 900 students, leaving space to grow in a district that gains about 130 students yearly, Nielsen said.
Future needs also guided district officials’ decisions to enhance amenities and features to deliver modern opportunities that align with the high school’s state-of-the-art career and technical education offerings.
“This is your school, and we can’t wait to see how you make it your own,” Nielsen said to students. “It is a place where you will learn, grow and create memories that will last a lifetime. It is our hope that these walls inspire you to dream big, to work hard and to embrace the values of curiosity, kindness and resilience.”
People tour the inside of the new Roosevelt Middle School in Johnstown on Thursday. The school opened for students this week.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Undoubtedly, Nielsen said, it took a village — school board members, district leaders, local and state government officials, project partners, parents, teachers and community members — to plan and execute this project. However, the district especially minded “student voice” during the process.
Weld RE-5J Board Member Monica Johnson said a survey indicated middle schoolers selected Roosevelt Middle School as the name to represent themselves in the new chapter. In harmony with Roosevelt High School, the Mustangs felt excited to honor former President Teddy Roosevelt and “ride for the brand,” Johnson said.
“May this be a place where students thrive, educators shine and our community continues to come together to build brighter futures for all,” Nielsen said.
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