The Coeur d’Alene School Board on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to donate two portables, each with two classrooms, to the Inchelium School District. Transferring the portables will help Inchelium accommodate its students after fire damage. 

Located on the Colville Reservation, the Inchelium K-12 main school building is under renovation, overseen by Coeur d’Alene-based firm Architects West. This left the structure exposed when the Modrite Fire swept through. The building suffered severe smoke and ember damage, forcing Inchelium to accomodate its students in half-day shifts until October.

“Their community is definitely really hurting, they’ve been heavily impacted by fire,” said Cd’A Deputy Superintendent of Operations Seth Deniston.

Architects West notified Inchelium Superintendent Brian Freeman that the Coeur d’Alene district might have extra portables for them to use. Freeman called Seth Deniston, and he confirmed he would propose the resolution to the school board.

“We can help the Inchelium school district out, and also get rid of some portables, which is part of our long-term goals,” said Deniston.

The board found that the 35-year-old portables are valued at less than $5,000, with the cost of transporting them likely exceeding their worth. They are currently used for storage and not needed for future use by the Cd’A district. 

The district has been slowly removing the old portables it no longer needs and has already transported two to the Kellogg school district, which paid the transportation cost. Due to their age and condition, the portables are only suitable for short-term use. 

“The older ones don’t have a lot of value. The newer ones do and we could probably sell them, but we’ve held on to ours for a really long time,” Deniston said. “They’re hard to maintain, and they’re not as safe or as comfortable as the actual school building is.”

The Inchelium School District will cover the costs of transporting the portables and will be responsible for all risks associated with transporting them. The Cd’A board views this as a win-win situation and is pleased to assist Inchelium. 

“I am extremely grateful and humbled by their generosity,” said Inchelium Superintendent Brian Freeman. “I can't state enough gratitude to the board and to the community of Coeur d'Alene schools.”

The Cd'A school board hopes to remove the portables before the school year begins, but recognizes there are still many logistics to organize.