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School district will break ground June 9 on CTE building funded by $3.5 million state grant
Summary
The district announced receipt of a $3.5 million Idaho Career Ready Students Grant and plans for a new career and technical education (CTE) building adjacent to Sandpoint High School, with a June 9 groundbreaking. Trustees were shown designs and a list of planned programs; administrators outlined scope reductions to meet updated cost estimates.
Dr. Matt Meyer, the district superintendent, told the board the district secured an Idaho Career Ready Students Grant for $3.5 million after several application rounds and will break ground on a new CTE building on June 9 at 9:30 a.m.
"We initially did it for over 5,700,000.0... and we finally did get it, for 3,500,000.0," the superintendent said, thanking state leaders and noting the grant followed multiple rewrites of the application.
The board saw architect renderings and a planned program list: automotive and diesel bays; small‑engine and marine mechanics (the district would be among the first in the state to offer marine mechanics); expanded residential carpentry; health occupations and sports medicine; and a proposed STEM diploma pathway. The district plans to reuse an existing south portable classroom offsite and said siting the facility adjacent to Sandpoint High School reduces student travel time and increases campus safety.
Because construction costs rose during design, district staff said they identified $800,000 in reductions and will contribute $500,000 from contingency funds to preserve core program space. Reductions include omitting one interior classroom between shops, substituting gravel for an asphalt service area, and specifying sealed rather than polished concrete where appropriate. Officials said the changes preserve the shops’ footprint and recommended maintaining bays for automotive and marine programs if possible.
The superintendent noted community partners have committed support: Bonner General Health and industry partners have pledged equipment and donations; a local rotary fundraiser has been planned to help purchase health‑occupations equipment. A groundbreaking ceremony inviting trustees and industry partners was scheduled to follow the teachers’ retirement breakfast.
Trustees asked for clarity on budget contingencies and long‑term operating costs. District leaders said additional fundraising and in‑kind donations should offset some equipment costs and no additional voter funding is required for the construction as currently planned.
The district will present final contract awards and schedule milestones for board review before construction begins.
