C-Falls plans for future of elementary district

Columbia Falls School District has put out a request for qualifications for architect and engineering services to assist in master planning for its elementary district.

Planners will work to define current and future needs of the district from a facilities and programming standpoint. Through facilitated meetings, presentations, staff and community input, the district is asking planners to develop preliminary design documents and a cost-benefit analysis for potential renovation, expansion or new construction.

The school district has two elementary schools that house kindergarten through fifth grade. Glacier Gateway Elementary was built in 1940, and Ruder Elementary in 1975, according to the school district.

Columbia Falls Superintendent Steve Bradshaw said there are concerns on whether spending money on maintaining the older buildings is the most efficient use of funds during a school board meeting March 12.

“This school district has done an outstanding job maintaining their buildings, so most people look at them and say well, why would you need something? But what you don’t see is the lack of outlets, the heating system that’s getting to a point where you’re not sure you’re going to make it through winter — that type of thing,” Bradshaw said. He questioned if the building’s current layout, with its lack of natural lighting, is the most conducive environment for learning.

Trustee Barb Riley also noted that technology used in schools has changed significantly since the schools were built. Aluminum-framed windows, for example, are not the most energy efficient.

“We need this to guide our decision making,” Riley said.

The deadline to submit a request for qualifications is 4 p.m. April 12. Submissions should be sent to Columbia Falls School District, 501 Sixth Ave. West, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.

A recommendation may come before the board on May 14.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.