School board OK’s contract for Ruder Elementary heating, cooling

The Columbia Falls School District 6 board last week approved a $1.284 million contract to replace the heating and cooling system in the old Ruder Elementary School.

The school is currently undergoing renovations, but upgrades to the HVAC system were not included in the roughly $11 million project.

The heat failed last fall in the old portion of Ruder and for about a week the interior temperature was in the 50s. The district does not expect any impact to local taxpayers — the monies are expected to come from federal Covid-19 relief funds.

Progress continues on the remodel and additions at Ruder Elementary and last week crews from Swank broke ground on the new Glacier Gateway Elementary School.