Most classes return to Columbia Falls High School, but work remains on classroom wing

Most classes have resumed in Columbia Falls High School, though some science classes are still being held at Glacier Gateway Elementary School.

Students returned to the high school Nov. 4. The classroom wing was heavily damaged by flooding after the roof was left open during rainstorms over the summer while contractor Swank Construction worked on replacing it.

Now the roof is done, and the classrooms have been rehabbed, with the school’s insurance footing the bill for the classrooms and the taxpayers the roof.

To date, about $2.186 million has been spent on the roof replacement of the $2.589 million contract with Swank. Using a federal grant, the school also improved the ventilation system under contract with Swank as well.

That contract was for $3.78 million with about $3.64 million paid to date.

But there’s still work to be done. One classroom that didn’t have asbestos tiles is still damaged, nonetheless. Cost to replace the tile is about $5,312 according to a report by District Clerk Dustin Zuffelato.

In addition, the first and second floor hallways have damage from construction at a cost of about $65,000 to replace. The lockers were also damaged and many are out of rack or missing pieces, he noted in his report.

Swank has blamed Belfor, the restoration company, for the locker damage, Zuffelato noted.

Belfor was contracted out to rebuild the classrooms and do mold abatement after they were damaged by the flooding. The parking lot also suffered damage from large equipment, like cranes parked on its surface.

In addition, the school is working on replacing the heating system in the classroom wing. That’s expected to cost about $350,000. The school wants to replace it as the old system isn’t expected to hold up for long due to flood damage. Insurance is expected to cover about half the cost of the heating system, so the school will have to tap its building reserve fund.

District voters passed a $2.75 million bond last year to pay for the roof, which was failing and had to be fixed, no matter what.

Meanwhile, students reported to the school board last week they were happy to be back in class and back on a seven period schedule. The school was bussing students to Canyon Elementary in Hungry Horse and to Glacier Gateway while the classroom wing was undergoing rehab.