Administrators working to find alternative classrooms after Columbia Falls High School suffers water damage

Columbia Falls High School students could be going to elementary school this fall. They might also end up in the library or the front of the gym.

School administrators say the classroom wing of the high school, which was damaged by a rainstorm as the roof was being replaced, will take about two months to clean up. That means about 22 classrooms will be unavailable when school starts, Superintendent Cory Dziowgo said.

Administrators were trying to iron out a plan for classes on Monday in order to maintain in-person learning.

For example, Glacier Gateway Elementary has about five open classrooms, Ruder Elementary has one, the Canyon Elementary has about five, some can be shoehorned into the library and some can be held in the gym.

Dziowgo said the situation is temporary. The school should be back to normal on or about Oct. 25. The water damage happened after a storm dumped about 2 inches of rain in Columbia Falls on July 30-31.

The roof was under construction at the time and not enough tarps were used, leaving the classroom wing with water damage. It also soaked asbestos tiles that normally would have been sealed, but now are crumbling, posing a hazard.

As such, the tiles will have to be removed safely. A contractor will do that in early October. 

District officials met last week with the city’s building codes inspector and the fire chief to make sure the plan would be up to code.

“We understand the importance of our students being with their teachers and peers. This decision supports our commitment to providing the best possible learning opportunities while fostering social interaction among students,” Dziowgo said in a message posted on the school’s website.

Dziowgo urged patience.

“As we make these adjustments, we must ensure the building is restored correctly. This will be achieved through the use of an industrial hygienist. An industrial hygienist is a professional dedicated to protecting the health and safety of people in the workplace and the community. They assess and control environmental factors that may affect the health and well-being of individuals. In our case, they will ensure that the construction and repair processes do not pose any health risks and that the building is safe for students and staff upon their return,” he said.

Once the work is completed, the new classroom wing should be pristine, he noted.

The actual school roof replacement project is expected to wrap up this week. That was funded by a $2.75 million bond. The school and the contractor, Swank Construction, are still working out with insurance companies on who is liable for the water damage.

The district’s insurance has given it the green light to go ahead with the work to get school started while the negotiations continue. School starts Sept. 3.