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School board awards $154,300 Valley View fire-alarm contract, approves RFP for natural gas and accepts March finances
Summary
At its April 27 meeting, the Great Falls Public Schools Board unanimously awarded a $154,300 contract to replace the fire alarm system at Valley View Elementary, authorized an RFP for natural gas supply, and accepted the March financial report.
The Great Falls Public Schools Board of Trustees voted unanimously April 27 to award a $154,300 contract to A.T. Clemens to replace the fire alarm system at Valley View Elementary and approved several routine procurement and finance items.
The bid for the Valley View alarm replacement was the low responsive offer after the district's RFP process, staff reported. "The low bidder on this one was A.T. Clemens for $154,300," district staff member Deconz said during his presentation. Trustee Paige Henning moved to award the contract and Trustee Bill Bronson seconded the motion; the board approved the award by voice vote.
Why it matters: the board described the purchase as part of an ongoing multi-year effort to upgrade emergency alarm systems across aging buildings in the district. The contract will fund a complete replacement of the system at Valley View, originally installed in 1951 with an addition in 1956.
The board also authorized staff to advertise a request for proposals (RFP) for natural gas supply. Staff said the decision is driven by a change in the local utility market after Northwestern Energy sold the nonregulated portion of its supplier book; that sale left the district without an option to renew its existing supplier contract. Market adviser Jim Lauren of Power Gas Corporation briefed trustees on pricing and risk, saying the three-year historical commodity average has been about $1.49 and that three-year forward pricing averages roughly $1.66. "The average cost for 3 years is a dollar 66 versus a dollar 49 over the last 3 years," he said. Staff told trustees the district intends to advertise the RFP immediately, seek proposals by May 26 and have service in place by July 1 if a new supplier is selected.
The board accepted the monthly financial report and check register for March 2026 without comment. Staff said the district's year-to-date numbers are aligning with expectations as the fiscal year approaches its close.
Votes at a glance: - Award Valley View fire alarm contract to A.T. Clemens for $154,300 — Moved: Trustee Paige Henning; Second: Trustee Bill Bronson; Result: Approved unanimously (yes: Kim Skornagofsky, Bill Bronson, Craig Duff, Paige Henning, Amy Thompson; absent/excused: Gordon Johnson, Marley Sunchild). - Authorize advertising RFP for natural gas supply — Moved: Trustee Bill Bronson; Result: Approved unanimously. - Accept monthly financial report and March register — Moved: Trustee Paige Henning; Result: Approved unanimously.
Next steps: procurement staff will proceed with the Valley View contract award paperwork and the advertised RFP for natural gas; the district expects proposals by May 26 and a July 1 service start date if a supplier is selected.
