TF school project moves forward

The Thompson Falls school board on Monday voted to move forward with a nearly $1.4 million multi-use building project at the high school.

The board called the special meeting on Monday to get more information from Dan McGee with Building Mind and Body, LLC. McGee attended the regular school board meeting last week, but came back this week to provide additional information and answer questions from the board.

The board on Monday voted to hire McGee to act as an owner’s representative for the project, guiding the district through each phase. McGee then went over options for managing the project and hiring architects, engineers and a general contractor for the project, which will include space for students to gather at lunch, sports practices, shop classes and other activities. Superintendent recommended McGee to the board as he had previously worked with him on a project at Florence schools. McGee also was involved in the multi-purpose building recently completed at Plains Schools.

Funding for the project comes from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), established as part of the Education Stabilization Fund included in the CARES Act. The project spending plan has been approved by the state Office of Public Instruction, Scully stated, and funds must be spent by September of 2023.

Elementary teacher Lynette Elliott expressed concerns about funds for the elementary school being used for a high school project without the needs of the elementary staff being considered. Scully stated that the new multi-use building will benefit all students, and that the ESSER funding is one-time money that need to be spent on a fixed asset. “This offers potential for all our kids,” Scully said. He added that additional money was used to hire another elementary teacher and to purchase additional Chromebooks for the school.

Board member Ryan Frields thanked Elliott for sharing her concerns and stated that is why the board wanted to have the special meeting. Fellow board member John Wilson said the building will also provide opportunities for the community, possibly with more adult education offerings.

The next step in the project will be the school advertising a request for qualifications for contractors and architects in order to get additional stakeholders secured for the project.