Former superintendent gives insight into high school remodel

I am writing to express my support for the Columbia Falls High School bond project. As your former Columbia Falls Junior High Principal and Superintendent of School District 6, I have a unique perspective on this project and our district’s needs. My 26-year career in the district was the honor of my life, serving students, parents, staff, and the community in this wonderful place we call home.

Over the span of my career, several bonds were passed, including the Columbia Falls Junior High bond in the late 1990s and the 2017 bond, which built a new Glacier Gateway Elementary School and remodeled Ruder School. To say the district has been grateful for the community’s past support would be an understatement.

There are many reasons a new facility is needed for our high school, which was built in 1959. However, this letter will focus on the grave needs in the areas of safety and security. Unfortunately, these issues are top of mind for all of us, as our children are our most precious gifts. Having discussed school security for many years at the local, state, and national levels, and having participated in numerous trainings and consultations, we understand the challenges schools face. We cannot ignore our responsibility to keep our students, staff, and community safe.

The first area of concern that needs to be addressed is the number of access points, or exterior doors, at the high school. Currently, there are more than 30 exterior doors. The intent of the new building would be to reduce that number to seven. From a security standpoint, reducing entry points is essential to decreasing the opportunities for unauthorized access.

On March 6, 2023, at approximately 1 a.m., I received a phone call from Jon Konen, CFHS principal. He forwarded a disturbing and threatening email he had received stating that an armed intruder was lying in wait for the school to open that morning. 

We immediately contacted law enforcement and began reviewing the high school’s security cameras from that evening through the time of the call. Because the cameras are motion-activated, we were able to check all 30-plus doors for suspicious activity. Reviewing all of those cameras for that period took nearly two hours.

The frightening aspect of that experience was seeing how many potential places an intruder could enter the high school and how difficult it had become to monitor them all. Thanks to our fantastic local law enforcement in Columbia Falls and Flathead County, including the canine unit, a thorough search of the building was completed and nothing was found. 

After informing the school community, we discovered that the same threat had been sent to several other school districts, including Bozeman, where schools were closed for the day after a door was found propped open. This is just one example of why reducing the number of access doors is so important to the safety and security of our students and staff.

Another area of concern with an older building is fire suppression. All of the other buildings in the district have been upgraded to code with sprinkler systems. Having experienced the sprinkler system at the junior high on one occasion, I can say firsthand that these systems can prevent tragedy and keep our kids safe. Voting yes on the school bond will provide this important level of fire protection in the high school while potentially reducing insurance and liability costs and helping prevent significant property damage.

Communication is also key during any crisis situation. One of the frustrations over the years has been the lack of a modern public address system within the building and across the campus. The high school bond provides for a modern communication system that would allow critical information to be shared quickly and effectively when needed.

As the high school population has grown since the high school was built, so have the district’s space needs. Many years ago, art classes and various other classes were moved to a facility in the west parking lot, commonly called the art annex. 

This building also houses the transportation bus barn. Having students leave the main building and re-enter campus for classes has been a significant security concern. This is not a safe alternative in today’s educational environment. Building a new high school would allow students and faculty to remain within a secure perimeter throughout the school day.

For these reasons, as well as other important considerations—including infrastructure, efficiency, energy, and 21st-century learning—I hope you will vote in favor of the Columbia Falls High School bond. I realize the financial sacrifice this will require from families, but our children are worth the long term investment.

Thank you for your continuing support of our schools and School District 6.

Dave Wick

Former SD6 Superintendent