Board asks staff to develop options for Haley Elementary after facilities review
Summary
A facilities review found some Haley Elementary components are costlier to maintain than replace; trustees asked staff to return with options — from targeted repairs to full replacement — and approved issuing an RFQ for architects to develop plans.
BLAINE COUNTY — District facilities staff told the board Tuesday that Haley Elementary shows multiple aging components and poor condition scores in parts of the building, and trustees directed staff to develop alternatives that range from targeted remodels to full replacement.
Director Benyon summarized the district's building-condition evaluation and said some Haley areas scored roughly 29.6 on the district rubric, a mark he described as indicating replacement is more cost-effective than upgrade. He said the gymnasium dates to the 1930s: "The gym is circa 1930s...I think the plaque says it was 1936," he said.
Benyon noted current Haley enrollment at about 306 students and contrasted the facility’s roughly 90,000 square feet with Alturas Elementary at about 58,000 square feet. He said energy-consumption and security issues — including many exterior access points and a disjointed floor plan — weighed into the condition assessment.
Trustee Dan Turner raised concerns about scale and cost, referencing estimates in the district memo that put per-square-foot replacement in a $540–$600 range and an overall high-end, 20-year projection near $40 million. "It seems hard to message the fact that we could be running deficits and laying off teachers and building a $40,000,000 school," Turner said.
Superintendent Fowdy and Director Benyon urged the board to consider all options. Fowdy proposed revising the recommendation to ask architectural firms to produce multiple options (repair, partial rebuild, full rebuild) and to hold a work session to review data, projected repair spending and community messaging. The board agreed and asked staff to return with options and an engagement plan.
Separately, the board approved a request-for-qualifications (RFQ) to secure an architectural team that could support a potential plant-facility levy and the Haley project.
Next steps include developing multiple design and cost options, scheduling a public workshop or work session, and returning to the board for direction before any bond or levy proposal is finalized.
