Grant helps high school renovation

Whitefish High School was awarded last

week the Montana Quality Schools Project Grant, helping kick off

fundraising efforts for the proposed high school renovation

project.

The $658,019 grant from the state is

bumped up to $870,519 when matched with $212,500 of Whitefish Tax

Increment Finance funds committed by the school board as a

requirement of the grant application.

The grant supports the overall

redevelopment project but is specifically for the renovation of the

existing gymnasium. The funding is committed whether or not the

larger project moves forward.

The gymnasium was selected as the focus

of the grant application because it was the one component of the

existing building that the district is certain should be saved.

Renovation plans paid for by the grant

include replacement of the bleachers and hardwood floor, new

ventilation equipment, the addition of clerestory windows to

provide natural light, installation of missing emergency lights and

signs and a new scoreboard.

The grant funds will be available for

the 2012-2013 biennium, providing the district ample time to

develop the plans for the balance of the project. To qualify for

the grant, the district is also required to raise a minimum of

$80,000 from other sources.

“This award demonstrates how hard the

district is working to find other sources of funding before asking

the community for support,” said high school principal Dave

Carlson. “And this grant is particularly positive because it is not

contingent on the larger project, so no matter what else happens,

the Bulldogs will be getting a first class gymnasium.”

Steeplechase Development Advisors

prepared the grant. CTA Architects and Martel construction

supported the application process.

The grant was administered by the

Department of Commerce but funding was not guaranteed until Gov.

Brian Schweitzer signed funding legislation last week. Steeplechase

representative, Bayard Dominick, commented, “We are particularly

grateful for the hard work of our local legislators, Sen. Ryan

Zinke and Rep. Derek Skees, who really went to bat to protect the

funding for the grant program.”

Whitefish superintendent, Jerry House,

added, “This has been a great month for the Whitefish schools. We

have a wonderful new superintendent coming next year, energetic new

board members, overwhelming community support in the levy election

and now news of a large grant for our high school project. I am

grateful to be retiring on such a positive note.”