The Charlo Community Outdoor Complex board has almost secured enough funds to replace the old dirt track at Charlo School District with a new, modern rubberized track, but they still need an additional $200,000 to reach their goal. 

The estimated $1.2 million project entails a new eight-lane track, a new drainage system and surfacing the high jump and runways, which will serve both students and the community. 

According to Harley Coleman, the board president, for the last 11 years the board has been raising funds to replace the unlevel dirt track that currently doesn’t meet Montana High School Association length standards. The original track was built by community efforts in 1971. 

The board came up with the idea about 13 years ago, and Coleman explained that he thought this project was going to be “a lot easier project, a lot simpler and a lot cheaper,” but now it has become a large community effort. 

Coleman explained that Charlo track athletes had to travel first to Polson to practice and later to Ronan when its rubberized track was built due to the tough challenges runners can face on a dirt track. This new track will allow Charlo athletes to practice at their own school and host their own track meets. 

The board has received wide business and community support with nearly 300 donors, gifting a total of $1 million. However, the cost of materials is high, and the board is seeking corporate sponsors to help reach the final project needs. 

The cost of materials for just the track is slated at $300,000, with an additional $100,000 needed for resurfacing the high jump and the runways for long jumps and pole vault. The drainage portion of this project is also estimated at $200,000, but Coleman explained that they hope half of this drainage system, which benefits the school gym, will be paid by the district. 

Charlo Superintendent Jim Baldwin said discussion to fund the drainage system is on the school board’s agenda for their Aug. 18 meeting. He explained it is the district’s responsibility to pay for this system and hopes to find a way to fund it with the district clerk. 

Historically, Charlo has always been a low-funded district, with a low tax base and minimal state funding. According to previous Leader reporting, Lake County Superintendent of Schools Carolyn Hall has stated that state funding is “very limited” and not really intended for construction projects.

Hall also explained that for large infrastructure projects, the school would typically ask taxpayers to pass a bond, but with a low tax base it is more difficult for the school to raise funds. 

Project benefits 

Coleman explained that he sees high value in this project, with a track benefiting student athletes and ultimately this sport alongside others providing stability for students. 

When he was on the school board many years ago, he explained that they wanted to discontinue pole vault due to the high cost for safety mats. But he explained to the board then that he watched pole vault provide a foundation to a student who had never really found a niche in high school. 

That student went on to take state championships, started his own business and became a productive member of society, leading him to ask the board, “What’s that worth?” 

“We can help kids excel, get confidence and change their lives,” Coleman said. “How do you put a value on that?” 

Charlo senior and track athlete Avery Coleman explained that the track team’s sprinters and long-distance runners head to Ronan’s track for practice about twice a week because even simple relay handoffs can be difficult on a dirt track. She added that heading to Ronan for those practices is time-consuming, delaying their start time by roughly 30 minutes. 

She believes this track could bring more athletes to Charlo and be helpful for St. Ignatius track athletes as well. However, Coleman said that the dirt track has not stopped Charlo from producing top athletes and that “having a new track would help us out so much more.” 

The board has done a variety of fundraising efforts over the years, and donations can be sent to the Charlo Community Outdoor Complex at P.O. Box 155, Charlo, MT 598224

Coleman explained that WGM Group, an engineering firm, has already completed its work on this project, and he is hoping the project will be bid by this fall so construction can start next year.