Great Falls school board approves two-day emergency closure of Lincoln Elementary after roof peeled off in windstorm

On March 9, 2026, the Great Falls Public Schools Board of Trustees voted to approve an emergency closure of Lincoln Elementary for March 9 and March 10 after a wind event “peeled the roof off” the south side of the building, district officials said.

Superintendent Hoyer told the board that a neighbor alerted staff about the roof damage on Sunday and that crews arriving on scene found the roof had been torn off and caught in trees. “The roof had blown off of Lincoln Elementary School,” Hoyer said, describing the wind damage and the immediate multi-agency response that included the fire department, buildings and grounds, insurance representatives, engineers and contractors.

The superintendent said crews inspected the material that blew from the roof and worked with the fire department to rule out asbestos; the debris was identified as cellulose material and crews used vacuums to clean affected yards. Hoyer recommended the emergency closure under district Policy 2221 and Montana Code Annotated 20-9-806 (school closures) and 20-1-301 (fiscal year matters) to give staff time to assess damage and secure safe spaces for students.

Facilities lead Boyd told the board the district had gained temporary occupancy for the North Wing and the gym, allowing kindergarten through third grade and specialist services to resume in those areas. “We’ve been able to gain temporary occupancy to the North Wing and the gym of Lincoln Elementary School, which will allow us to have school resume for kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd,” Boyd said, and added that the district expected to begin those operations as soon as Wednesday at 10 a.m., pending final checks.

Boyd said grades 4–6 — located in the south wing where the roof was damaged — will be relocated temporarily: three 4th‑grade classrooms to Lewis and Clark Elementary School and two 5th‑grade and three 6th‑grade classrooms to Paris Gibson Education Center. Parent meetings for grades 4–6 were scheduled for the Paris Gibson gym to explain the logistics; Boyd said some family engagement events might be reorganized into shifts to preserve traditions while students are relocated.

District staff described safety steps before reoccupying spaces: the fire alarm system was tested, the district will implement an hourly fire watch when students are present on the affected side of the building, and air-quality testing and dehumidification equipment were being deployed to mitigate water and interior damage. An architect was preparing an expedited scope of work and the district said an insurance claims adjuster was expected the following morning; Hoyer told the board that the Office of Public Instruction (referred to in the meeting as “OPI”) and district insurance had assured support.

Trustees asked about structural and water damage, the extent of repairs and the timeline for full restoration. Boyd said crews were patching the roof to limit further damage and that the district hoped to move through temporary fixes over the near term and plan a full repair process after assessments and the claims process. Trustee Bill Bronson thanked Hoyer for addressing community concerns about asbestos and noted that local emergency responders had helped staff move classroom materials and furniture.

Trustee Paige Henning moved to approve the emergency closure on March 9 and March 10; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair announced the motion carried.

The board did not set a final repair completion date; officials said they would continue coordinated inspections, testing and planning with architects, insurance and city partners and would update families through ParentSquare and scheduled parent meetings. The district emphasized that student safety and continuity of instruction remain the top priorities.