The Powell Amish community has grown to 15 families and now has enough children to create a school.

Last Tuesday the Park County commissioners approved the construction of a private school on land owned by the community near Lane 10 on Road 6 south of Powell.

Heart Mountain School board member Allen Graber said the 15 students will attend school from ages 6-14 — eighth grade — at which point in their community he said "real life starts."

At that point youths may work for a local farmer or rancher, or work in one of the cottage industries the community runs.

But before that, once the building is finished, they'll be able to learn in a school that can handle 20-22 students and one to two teachers. And the building of the school won't add any vehicle traffic, as students will reach the school via horse and buggy or bicycle, or use any electricity.

The community members started arriving in the area three years ago and member John Hershberger said it's been a good fit for them and they’ll even offer rides to people they see watching the buggy go by. Graber agreed the Powell community has been a good fit.

“We appreciate the welcome here,” he said.

There were no public comments received regarding the proposed schoolhouse, which sits on a nearly 40 acre parcel of land south of the Shoshone River. The building floor plan shows a 30-foot-by-32-foot classroom and a slightly larger mudroom.

The school will operate September-April according to the documents provided to the county.