Blanding Schools See New Upgrades for 26-27 

by Kara Laws
Contributing writer
All three San Juan School District schools in Blanding have seen major improvements in their buildings this year. 
Moving into the 2026-2027 school year Blanding Elementary will move into an entirely brand new building, San Juan High will unveil their grand entrance, and Albert R Lyman Middle School will continue construction on their new drop off zone. 
This school year, parents and students will be welcomed into gorgeous new buildings that are infinitely safer for our children. During the school day there will be one, single entrance into the building. That entrance funnels all visitors into the main office through a single door that is only unlocked as office staff approves visitors. 
From the main office visitors may be allowed, or disallowed entrance to the rest of the school through an additional always locked door. 
This is not the only safety feature. 
Doors can be remotely locked and unlocked, with complete sections of the school shutdown in an instant. Windows fill the hallways and line outside of the schools giving teachers and staff an improved view of what is happening between classes, around their buildings, and in rooms. 
While the upgrade is not complete at the Albert R Lyman Middle School, it will also include this level of increased security and safety. 
Each school also features new matching signage, pulling all three schools together with a feeling of cohesion and community. 
The new Blanding Elementary School has created a lot of community buzz and excitement. The old school has been struggling to hold all the staff and students while keeping up with the utility demands for several years now. 
The beautiful new school sits at 777 N 100 W, ten blocks north of the old elementary school and nestled in close to its sister schools. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Aug 4th and the school is officially open; staff and teachers are setting up their rooms and preparing to welcome the first students to the new building. 
The new Blanding Elementary School is nothing short of breathtaking and feels ready made for learning and children. 
There are three main hallways, each celebrates a local landscape feature: mesas, canyons, and mountains. At the head of each large hallway is a massive, stunning, and playful mural highlighting the beauty and the wildlife from each landscape. You will find elk and mountain lions in the mountains mural and lizards and bighorn sheep in the canyons. 
Each hallway includes cases to showcase student art and achievements as well as a color change to match its landscape theme. 
Each classroom has its own sink, beautiful windows, new storage closets, and a joined room with the classroom next door. These rooms allow students and teachers to work and collaborate together with ease and a quiet atmosphere. These fully windowed rooms can double as quiet spaces for kids, a place to get more help, or a space for advanced work to be taught. 
Leaning into the diverse culture in Blanding, and throughout San Juan County, the school also Include two hogan shaped classrooms, one on each side of the building entrance. One of these unique and gorgeous classrooms will host the heritage language class. 
The special education classroom is a significant and incredible upgrade from the old elementary school. It includes a built in quiet space for kids who need to reduce their feelings of overwhelm, soft, simple furniture to help keep everyone safe and comfortable, their own restroom, direct access to the outdoors, and their own washer and dryer. 
The gym, the lunchroom, the kitchen, and the library are all significant improvements not only Blanding students but parents as well. 
Parents will finally have parking on the school grounds and a designated pick-up and drop-off location. Both of these features will add to  the safety and security of the students and peace-of-mind for the parents. 
School events will get a major enhancement and can now take place in the new gymnasium, complete with custom painted bleachers and a separate southern entrance. Graduations and performances will be able to be held indoors with room for all parents and visitors to sit comfortably. 
San Juan High School is proud to unveil their much needed renovations this year as well. In addition to added security features and upgraded office space, San Juan High School now boasts a beautiful and slightly grand new foyer. With a clear entrance, the school now sits more proudly and clears up confusion for new students and visitors. 
In addition, the art classroom saw a big upgrade as did the main bathrooms, the EDNET rooms, and the counseling center. The seamless and beautiful San Juan High School addition has given the high school new life and new light – literally. 
Almost the entire east side of the building was given new, grand windows that make the whole school feel brighter, more welcoming, and much bigger while continually adding to the improved security. 
The old office will be turned into additional offices, hopefully an improved staff resource room, and eventually a student center on the far north side. All of the changes enhance San Juan High School experiences for staff, students, visiting teams, theater goers, and other visitors.  
Albert R Lyman Middle School will get a new pick-up and drop off area, putting an end to the dangerous 100+ U-turns that currently dominate school pick-up. Additional parking will be added as well as new classrooms along the north side of the building. 
While the middle school is still under construction and has an inconvenient school year ahead, if the results mimic what has been created at the other schools the wait is sure to be well worth it. 
These much needed renovations will surely set a standard of care and pride for current and future generations. 
San Juan School district administration, school administration, staff, and teachers who took part in the creation and development of these projects should be proud of their accomplishments and contributions to the future of education in Blanding.