School rep suggests spending another $1 million on Ruder

The outgoing owner’s representative for School District 6 suggested to the board last week that the district might want to consider spending another $1 million on the Ruder Elementary renovation and remodel.

The school’s heating and cooling system recently failed and the temperature inside the building was in the upper 50s until repairmen could get it to work.

Some classroooms also had water on the floors as a result of the remodel, which apparently caused the building to leak. It has since been fixed.

Voters last year approved a $37 million bond to remodel Ruder, build a new Glacier Gateway Elementary, put new ball fields in between Ruder and the junior high and build a new, secure entrance to the junior high.

But so far it’s only borrowed $32 million, so it does have some reserve funds if need be.

The fields are in and the grass is growing and

the walls and roof are up on a new wing of Ruder.

But the old part of Ruder could use more work, suggested Dow Powell, the owner’s representative for the district.

Powell has resigned due to family reasons and will be leaving in November.

“You may want to put another $1 million into Ruder,” he suggested to the board.

The board took no action, but it did hire a replacement for Powell — Jobsite Inc. — is now the new owner’s representative.

Powell made a little more than $9,200 a month. Jobsite is still negotiating its contract with the district.