Columbia Falls School District seeks support for roof replacement levy

Columbia Falls Public Schools will make a public push to inform voters about an upcoming building reserve levy request to fix the roof on the classroom wing of its high school.

The alternatives to not fixing the roof soon could still cost the district thousands, without ever addressing the roof.

School officials noted earlier this month that there has been some misinformation circulating about the project.

For one, the roof itself didn’t leak. What happened was moisture, perhaps from a rain event while it was being replaced years ago, got in between layers of gypsum and the steel plates below, noted school officials.

The roof was then sealed up and over time the steel rusted and eventually disintegrated. The board was planning to replace the roof soon, as it knew it was nearing the end of its lifespan, but that would take some planning and saving of building reserves in order to avoid a levy.

But the disintegration was discovered when contractor Swank Construction began a heating, ventilation and cooling system upgrade on the school. The roof was in such poor shape in places it wouldn’t support the weight of the new HVAC units.

The HVAC project, which was paid for through federal Covid-19 relief grants, is now on hold.

So the school now finds itself floating a $2.75 million building reserve levy to fix the roof over the classroom wing. 

The roof levy would have an approximately $83.16 tax impact on a home assessed for $300,000 and $166.32 on a home assessed for $600,000 for two years.

If the levy passes, the school district would have to start the work fairly quickly in order to have it done by the beginning of the school year. It takes about 20 weeks to fix the roof.

If the levy fails, the district is looking at several options, none of which are all that tenable. For one, they could bus students back to Canyon Elementary and use classrooms there until the roof can be fixed. 

There may also be rooms available at the junior high. The district considered modular classrooms, but they cost about $20,000 to rent apiece, noted Superintendent Cory Dziowgo, and they don’t have bathrooms. Modulars would have enough space for two classrooms. 

Another option would be an A and B day shift in the schedule, with virtual learning.

The school is planning an informational session and tour so folks can see the roof themselves 7 p.m. April 23 at the high school.