Community raises safety and facilities concerns as Colstrip board explores consolidation options
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Summary
Board members and teachers raised safety, logistics and facilities concerns — especially gym space, pool use and mixing middle- with high-school students — as the district considers consolidation options and surveys the community about timing and costs.
The board opened public comment and a brainstorming session about possible consolidation options, including moving middle-school students and centralizing programs. Presenter said the district can currently meet operational needs but must plan for long-term enrollment decline and facility costs.
Teachers emphasized developmental and safety differences between middle- and high-school students and urged careful planning and preparatory training before any consolidation. One teacher who identified their role in the meeting said, "My biggest concern is the kids," and repeatedly asked how staff and students would be prepared for integration.
Several public commenters and board members said gym space and locker-room capacity would be among the largest obstacles to centralization. The board said it will collect cost estimates for building or retrofitting gym space and will explore smaller interim options (such as building a modest auxiliary gym) and grant opportunities. Presenters cautioned that a full gym suitable for all activities could cost millions.
Other operational issues raised included Internet and phone infrastructure, the location of the district's Internet hub and CenturyLink phone equipment in the old building, and the complexity and one-day outage risk of moving those services to the high school.
Speakers also described deferred-maintenance items that would require substantial investment if consolidation proceeds: a boiler with problematic temperature controls, elevator replacement (a board member cited a figure of about $250,000), ventilation problems in the welding and science rooms, sewer odors in lower-level classrooms, and limited staff bathroom access. Board members said those deferred projects could push cost estimates higher and that some work must be done to keep facilities safe and ADA-compliant.
The board committed to broader community engagement: a survey to tax holders and community members (available online and by other methods if needed), additional public meetings, and follow-up cost estimates. Board members acknowledged concerns about transparency and said they would push to improve direct communication with teachers and residents as the district develops options and numbers.
