The Columbia Falls School District 6 board is inviting the public to a series of meetings this month and next to look at the particulars of a remodeling of the high school.

All of the meetings are scheduled for Wednesday nights at the high school and will include tours of the facility. The gatherings will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The first meeting is April 23 and will focus on security and safety at the school; the second is May 7, with a preliminary budget and bond amount, along with a discussion on the infrastructure of the school; and the third meeting is May 21 and will focus on 21st century learning and upgrades to classrooms and workspaces and how much additional space will be needed.

The school was completed in 1959 and upgrades over the years have been fairly minimal and often tied to disasters, like fires and floods. Last year the classroom wing was damaged by flooding as the roof, which was under construction, was open during a heavy rain and the classroom wing was damaged. 

Insurance largely covered the cost of the repairs, but taxpayers paid for the initial roof repair, which was covered by a $2.589 million bond passed last year. Still, the classroom wing needs work. The ceiling, for example, is open, revealing the beams above.

The roof bond will be off the books in 2026 and the plan is to have the high school remodel bond dovetail into when the roof bond expires.

Some people in the community have suggested that the district simply build a new high school, but that would likely be cost prohibitive.

Superintendent Cory Dzwiogo noted that just to replace the school without any additions would cost about $69.1 million. The school may be old, but engineers have said previously it has “good bones.”

The district’s bonding capacity is $76 million.

So the district is looking at a remodel, which would be less expensive. 

Recent surveys of parents and staff rate the school’s infrastructure and safety as the highest concerns, with a focus on programs that have hands-on learning and flexible learning spaces.

The number of entrances to the school should also be reduced, respondents noted.

Improving the gym ranked fairly low. The gym floor is pretty much on its last legs, school officials have said previously.

The hope is to finalize the plans for the remodel this summer and float a bond request to voters in October.

People interested in the remodel project can contact the school administrative offices directly at 406-892-6550.