Despite rain damage to high school classrooms, administration says there's no plan to delay school or go to remote learning

Recent rains have damaged the classroom wing at the Columbia Falls High School.

The rains, which fell in late July, dumped about 2 inches of rain in Columbia Falls, but the timing couldn’t have been worse for the high school, as part of the classroom wing suffered water damage. Crews from Swank Construction as putting new trusses and a roof on the wing as part of a voter-approved $2.75 million project.

With just three weeks before school starts, teachers have been contacting the Hungry Horse News raising concerns that they might not have classrooms available by the time school starts. They’re also concerned about the apparent lack of communication between them and the school administration.

But School Superintendent Cory Dziowgo in a post on the high school’s website Friday, Aug. 9, said the district has contracted with Belfor Property Restoration, a nationally recognized company specializing in large-scale restoration projects. He added there are no plans to delay school or go to remote learning.

“They (Belfor) have been onsite since Wednesday, (Aug. 7), to assess the situation and provide guidance,” he said in the post.

“An industrial hygienist has also been brought in to ensure we fully understand the scope of the project and to oversee that the repairs are done to the highest standards, ensuring the safety and health of our Wildcats,” he added.

The rainstorm was on July 30 and 31, according to National Weather Service records. Locals said their gauges registered about 2 inches of rain.

Dziowgo said in a text to the Hungry Horse News that limited tarps were deployed when the rainstorm hit. He said the district is working to establish liability between insurance companies on payment for the water damage. Nothing is defined yet, he said.

The project has had its challenges prior to the flooding.

The roof caught on fire from construction activity on July 16. Fortunately neighbors saw smoke and flames coming from the roof early on that evening and Columbia Falls firefighters were able to pounce on the blaze and get it under control with no significant damage to the school.

In addition, the old roof was so deteriorated in places it simply fell into the school and had to be carted out by the wheelbarrow load.

“In the coming days, you’ll notice new equipment and an increased labor force on the high school campus. This week, we are finalizing a remediation plan, which will include a well-defined scope of work and a clear sequence for how the work will proceed,” Dziowgo said. “We aim to have this plan completed by Monday, (Aug. 12). I understand that the start of school is rapidly approaching, and there are many uncertainties. However, one thing I can assure you is that we will repair our building correctly and to industry standards. We will not cut corners, overlook tasks, or put the safety of our students, staff, and community at risk. Our commitment is to provide the best facility and learning environment for our students. We have increased the frequency of our meetings, and once plans are made, we will ensure they are communicated promptly. Please know that as soon as we have information, we will share it with you. There are currently no plans to delay the start of the school year or to move away from in-person learning. Once we receive the structured timeline for the restoration, we will review the school schedule accordingly. Our goal is to do this right to ensure the best possible outcome.,” he said in his post.

School is scheduled to start Sept. 3.