Bayfield School Superintendent Troy Zabel is cutting back on his official duties to deal with some health issues. District Finance director Amy Lyons was appointed by the school board on June 21 to fill in the gaps for the time being.

A letter was e-mailed to parents on June 23. In it Zabel said, "As many of you are well aware by now, I am facing some significant health challenges that will at times impact my schedule and access to tend to school district business. ... (At the June 21 meeting) we agreed that during times I am not available to make district level decisions, it is critical we have one person that will take over the duties of 'leading' the district. We all agreed that Amy Lyons is best suited to serve in this capacity."

Zabel continued, "Although Amy's background isn't in education, she deeply understands the workings of our district, and I'm confident that she will seek out the best advice and counsel necessary to make the best decisions for the district."

Lyons's focus is on district finances, but she has worked closely with Zabel on the now-completed high school construction projects and the planning this past fall and winter to create the very detailed grant application that won the district an $8.5 million BEST grant from the Colorado Department of Education.

The grant was awarded in early June and is to help pay for construction of a new elementary school for grades 3-5 and major renovation of the current elementary school for grades K-2.

The overall goal of the construction project is to get the district's youngest students out of the old buildings on South Street.

The next immediate challenge is to inform district voters about the bond issue, around $30 million, to pay the district share of the construction project. The BEST grant is contingent on voter approval of the local funding.

Lyons told the Times this week, "My main focus right now is making sure we keep moving forward with the bond election this fall to ensure that we get the $8.5 million matching dollars. We've put so much time and effort into that already. Troy and I have worked very closely on that."

The other focus will be getting ready for the start of classes in August. July is sort of a down time for district officials, Lyons said. "Our office will be closed next week for the 4th. At this time of year, we don't have the sort of day-to-day interruptions that we have during the school year. The (2016-17) budget is done. I think we have all our hiring done. (Personnel Director) Misty (Mathews) has been working really hard with our principals to get any last-minute vacancies filled."

Lyons said the district will have an entry in Bayfield's July 4 parade and an information booth in Joe Stephenson Park after the parade.

The district will have to notify the County Clerk by July 29 of intent to participate in the November election. The school board will probably approve the official ballot wording for the bond issue on Aug. 23, Lyons said.

"Troy has been coming in" to the office, she said. "Our intention is he can continue doing some work. We're just moving forward, anticipating he will be here when he can. ... We met with the principals and department heads last week. They are all very capable. We want to have them do what they do best, lead their buildings in the best interest of the students, to have things handled in the buildings as much as possible. We know we have the right people in those positions, and they'll do what they need to do."

Lyons is originally from Nebraska. She worked for La Plata County for about five years. "Then I moved out here. The whole time out here I've been in public education, 12 years in January. Troy just finished his fifth year. Everybody in this office, we have a lot of consistency and we want to keep that going as much as possible. Transportation, nutrition, trust that our employees are doing what they need to. It starts with Troy, how he leads all of us."

Lyons has two kids in the district. She previously served on the BEEP preschool board. "Education has become my passion," she said. "I'm grateful to be working here with all these wonderful people."

Durango TV has a feature on the district, including an interview with Lyons and a tour of the old buildings on South Street led by Assistant Principal Bill Hesford. The link to that is http://www.durangotv.com/video-detail.php?ID=994