FVCC students help Olney-Bissell school

At Olney-Bissell Elementary School it can be a bit of a shuffle to fit some classes into the building. Art may be held in the hallway or music class in the library.

“There’s no place for band or the science lab or art,” principal Lona Everett said. “We have to meet in the library, gym or hallway.”

The school has partnered with the building trades program at Flathead Valley Community College to rectify the situation. Students from FVCC are currently building a 900 square foot building on the south side of the school grounds that will be used as a classroom.

Everett said the school’s enrollment continues to grow in the K-8 school, but the funds weren’t in the budget to build extra space.

Teacher Bob Driggers had worked with the building trades program and suggested the idea of a partnership.

“I thought it was a wonderful idea,” Everett said.

Last week cement for sidewalks was being poured outside the shell of the building. FVCC students will work through the fall, then next spring wrap up finish work on the outside.

Everett said working with FVCC makes the construction process a bit longer than it would otherwise, but that it’s worth it.

“Next fall we’ll have another classroom,” she said. “They do everything but the flooring.”

In addition to the classroom space, three smaller rooms will be used for offices and storage.

Everett currently has staff working out of storage closets and at least one staff member is without an office.

Time saved will be the most significant benefit for the band, art and science classes. At the beginning and end of each class precious time is used up when students have to set up and take down instruments or supplies.

“Being able to have the committed space will make a world of difference,” Everett said. “Scheduling will also be helped — you can’t have library time when there’s science class going on in the library. It will be so much easier.”

FVCC students provide the labor for construction, while the school pays for the materials and building permits. The building will cost Olney-Bissell about $35,000.

Teletech recently gave the district $2,000 and Everett hopes to put that money toward a smartboard for the new classroom.

Greg Waldrop oversees the FVCC building program.

In the 17th year of the program, Waldrop said, this is the first time the classes have constructed anything other than a home.

Students are provided basic training in construction from framing to drywall and insulation as they construct the classroom building.

“They get an all around education in residential home building,” he said. “It’s a win-win for the community and the students.”