Asbestos removal adds wrinkle to water damaged high school cleanup

By CHRIS PETERSON

Hungry Horse News

Recent rains have damaged the classroom wing at the Columbia Falls High School, leaving teachers wondering if classes will be able to start in person, or if remote learning will be necessary as the school year starts in just three weeks.

Last week superintendent Cory Dziowgo expressed optimism about the school opening on time.

But at Monday’s school board meeting he revealed that asbestos in tiles had gotten wet and it will require abatement.

The school needs to find a contractor quickly who can do the work.

“We’re held to that (asbestos removal) timeline,” he told the board.

In addition there’s damage to the north wall of the classroom wing that needs to be fixed.

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 are 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. Most of the classes at the school are in that wing.They’re also concerned about the apparent lack of communication between them and the school administration.

There was a gap of several days when they said they heard nothing from the administration.

Dziowgo said the district has contracted with Belfor Property Restoration, a nationally recognized company specializing in large-scale restoration projects.

“They (Belfor) have been on site since Wednesday, (Aug. 7), to assess the situation and provide guidance,” he said in a post of the school’s website.

“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 (students),” he added.

The wing has to be completely dried out, with dry wall replaced in many places, or it will mold.

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 school’s insurance, for the time being, has authorized work to begin immediately and has been very helpful, district clerk Dustin Zuffelato told the board.

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 in a post on the school’s website last week.

 “We aim to have this plan completed by Monday, (Aug. 12).”

But the asbestos wrinkle appears to have slowed the plan.

 Dziowgo told the board that the roof itself could be done by Thursday.

Dziowgo tried to assure the public in the post last week.

“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.

School is scheduled to start Sept. 3.