If school roof levy fails, the alternatives are not pleasant

School District 6 will make a public push to inform voters about an upcoming building reserve levy request to fix the roof on the classroom wing of the Columbia Falls High School. The alternatives to not fixing the roof soon could still cost the district thousands, without ever addressing the roof.

School officials noted last week that there has been some misinformation out there on the necessary project.

For one, the roof itself didn’t actually leak. What happened was moisture over time, perhaps from a rain event while it was being replaced years ago, got in between layers of gypsum and the steel plates below, noted school officials.

The roof was then sealed up and over time, the steel rusted and eventually, disintegrated. The board was planning to replace the roof soon, as it knew it was nearing the end of its lifespan, but that would take some planning, and saving of building reserves in order to not have a levy.

But the disintegration was discovered when contractor Swank Construction began a heating, ventilation and cooling system upgrade on the school. The roof was in such poor shape in places, it wouldn’t support the weight of the new HVAC units.

The HVAC project, which was paid for through federal Covid-19 relief grants, is now on hold.

So the school now finds itself floating a $2.75 million building reserve levy to fix the roof over the classroom wing. 

The roof levy would have an approximately $83.16 tax impact on a home assessed for $300,000; and $166.32 on a home assessed for $600,000 for two years.

If the levy passes, the school district would have to start the work fairly quickly in order to have it done by the beginning of the school year. It takes about 20 weeks to fix the roof.

If the levy fails, the district is looking at several options, none of which are all that tenable. For one, they could bus students back to Canyon Elementary and use classrooms there until the roof can be fixed. 

There may also be rooms available at the junior high. The district considered modular classrooms, but they cost about $20,000 to rent apiece, noted superintendent Cory Dziowgo and they don’t have bathrooms. Modulars would have enough space for two classrooms. Another option would be an A and B day shift in the schedule, with virtual learning.

But if Covid-19 proved anything in schools, it was that virtual learning was less than effective.

The school is planning an informational session and tour so folks can see the roof themselves 7 p.m. April 23 at the high school.