The Columbia Falls School District 6 Board Monday (April 27) approved a $75.9 million bond resolution to remodel the high school.

The vote was unanimously in favor, with Trustee Justin Cheff absent.

This is the second go-round for the project, as the district trimmed $8.5 million from the original plan that voters rejected in November by a wide margin.

This time around there is more community support, with an independent group of parents and stakeholders leading the charge to promote the project.

The school held its first classes in 1959 and still has fixtures and other infrastructure from that era, save for the classroom wing, which saw a remodel after the roof leaked while it was being replaced a few years ago and was heavily damaged.

Insurance covered most of the cost of the damage, while a short-term bond paid for the roof replacement.

This new proposed project remodels almost every facet of the school as well as work that wasn’t done on the classroom wing, like replacing the exterior walls, which leak heat like a sieve.

The 25-year bond is estimated to have an interest rate of about 4.38%, if it passes. The estimated tax impact on a home with an assessed value of $100,000 is $63.80; $300,000 is $191.50 and $600,000 is $409.10.

Those figures could drop in ensuing years if Columbia Falls continues to grow as it’s projected to, with large subdivisions and commercial real estate projects in the planning stages or under construction.

The school district has set up a dedicated website at cfhsbond.com  that details the project and also has a tax calculator so a homeowner can plug in their property’s tax value and determine what the bond’s impact will be on their individual home.

The election will be done by mail, with ballots going out Sept. 11 and a return date to the Flathead County Election Department by Sept. 29.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights of the project, as designed by Jackola Engineering and Architecture:

The new remodel adds about 30,000 square feet to the school for instructional space, including two new shop classes (machining and automotive), an expanded Little Theater and the move of art classes into the main building. The old art annex would be moved south of the bus garage and used for offices.

The school would get new heating and ventilation, sprinkler systems, secure entrances, wiring and the walls and windows of the 65-year-old building, which leak heat like a sieve, would be replaced. Right now the school has about 32 entranceways. The new plan would cut that number down to less than 10 and still meet fire codes.

The Little Theater would be gutted and rebuilt to accommodate 650 people. Right now current seating is 415 and with some concerts, parents have to stand in the hallway or outside entirely. The theater can’t simply be expanded, because its exterior walls are structural, noted Shane Jackola, of Jackola Engineering and Architecture, the firm designing the project.

The gym and locker rooms would be remodeled and gym seating capacity would be risen to 2,900-plus seats, making it large enough for divisional tournaments. The gym, with some reconfiguration, can accommodate more seating without a great expense.

A track will go around the upper part of the gym and classrooms would be added to the north and locker rooms on the west side. The gym would also have exterior hallways, making it far more secure than it is now, as the doors are often left propped open as in some cases, it’s the only way to get into the west side of the school.

An access road from Talbott Road to the school was scrapped and unpopular. Another access road to Fifth Avenue West from the east parking lot was also scrapped, though may be a temporary dirt route for construction traffic. The parking lots would all be rebuilt, however, as they are falling apart.

The library would be moved from the south end of the classroom wing and rebuilt in what is now the south courtyard, tying it in better with the rest of school. The library space would then be used for technology classrooms. There would be a commons area near the library with an open cafeteria design off the kitchen.

A second floor that was proposed for the main foyer area was scrapped entirely.

The music, band and art classrooms would all be revamped. Art classes would no longer be in the annex, but a classroom in the north side of the school, with plenty of window light.

The school would add an automotive shop classroom and a machining classroom that would tie into the metal shop. All of the school’s shops would be reconfigured.

The district would add science lab classrooms separate from general science classes, so that lab materials aren’t in the same class.

The bathrooms would be remodeled, as they have equipment and fixtures dating back to the 1960s.

The gym floor would be replaced.

The school would get a new roof, except for the classroom wing, which already had its roof replaced. The remodel of the classroom wing would be rather light, except for the exterior wall replacements.

The consumer science class would get a commercial kitchen. Right now it has cupboards and fixtures from the 1960s.