ADDRESSING INCREASING
ENROLLMENT
SOLUTION #1: Make additional space available in
current elementary schools to reduce overloaded
classrooms and make room for increasing elementary
enrollment.
PROJECT ACTION: Move 6th graders out of the
elementary schools into a new and improved middle
school configuration of three grades: 6th, 7th and 8th.
RATIONALE
Pages 6-8 of Plan Draft:
It makes the most sense to move 6th graders
out of the elementary schools because:
◦ The 6th, 7th & 8th grade model has worked
in Great Falls previously
◦ Developmentally appropriate
◦ Eliminates two consecutive transitions.
◦ $100,000 middle school basic entitlement
to offset costs
RATIONALE CONTINUED…
It provides additional space in the elementary
schools enrollment projections increase:
2014-15: 5077
2015-16: 5113
2016-17: 5160
2017-18: 5149
2018-19: 5157
2019-20: 5216
2020-21: 5254
32.5 more elementary classrooms
Functional
Accredited
Capacity
With 6th grade
Without 6th grade
Functional
Overload
Capacity
5
788
580
1363
Need to Open a 3rd Middle School: Options

PROJECT ACTION I: 6th Graders to
Middle Schools; Repurpose PGEC as a
MS
◦ Pages 6-10 of Plan Draft
◦ Reviewed last time (ASE Comments)

PROJECT ACTION II-IV: 6th Graders to
Middle Schools; Repurpose West as a MS,
Reopen Skyline as an Elementary School
& Relocate Preschool
 Pages 10-15

PROJECT ACTION V: 6th Graders to
Middle Schools; Repurpose West as a MS
& Construct a New Elementary School
on Rancho Grande Property
◦ Pages 15-17
PROJECT ACTION II: 6th Graders to Middle Schools;
Repurpose West as a MS (pages 10-12)
PROJECT OVERVIEW: Reconfigure West Elementary into
a 3rd middle school to include 6th, 7th and 8th grades.
PROJECT RATIONALE:
West Elementary could be used as a middle school because:
 The building served as a junior high school (grades 7, 8 & 9)
from 1951-1985. Due to its use as an elementary school for
nearly the last 30 years however, it would take some effort and
resources to repurpose once again.
 It has a large auditorium and stage which are currently underutilized.
 There is a track and football field on the campus.
 The gym is large enough for middle school competition and
events.
 It is located on the west end of the district which is where
growth is taking place and it would allow for demographic
integration.
PROJECT IMPACT AND/OR
CONSEQUENCES
Requires the opening of another elementary school:
◦
Skyline and/or a newly built school

Opening Skyline as an elementary school would displace the preschool
Would require complete redistribution of westside students through boundary
changes: transportation and bussing issues
Would require a complicated timeline of activity
Would require an expensive upgrade of approximately $5,025,000 due to middle
school programming versus $675,000 that is need in infrastructure repairs needed if
maintained as elementary school
The cost of the project would require the passage of a bond and/or building reserve
levy
There is a possibility of safety and security issues during construction
Parking and traffic flow issues will increase with middle school students and parents
GFPS would receive $100,000 as the middle school basic entitlement which would
serve to offset the costs of hiring additional staff (principal, associate principal, office
staff, engineers, specialists, etc.) The basic entitlement would not cover all costs so
there are budgetary impacts. Additional costs are estimated at:







Administrative: $180,000
Secretarial/office: $85,000
Counseling: $100,000
Librarian: $75,000
Engineers: $100,000
Additional support staff (special education, Title I, etc.): $150,000
Total: $690,000- 100,000= $590,000 annually in salaries
PROJECT TIMELINE

Before opening West as a MS:
◦ Have to renovate West;
 Prior to renovating West, an elementary building
must be ready to house the displaced elementary
students
 If Skyline, must move out preschool into places that have to be
made ready for them and renovate Skyline before students
can be moved into Skyline
 If a new school, must be built and would perhaps impact the
timelines for the move of Lowell and the new construction of
Roosevelt and Longfellow
PROJECT COST ESTIMATES
AND PROPOSED FUNDING
SOURCES
Bond
Levy:
Area
HVAC
Air Conditioning
Plumbing
Multi-purpose & Cafeteria
Related Arts room upgrade
Parking and drop off zones
Stairs and West Entrance renovations
New Parking Area near football field
Subtotal
Cost
$225,000
$750,000
$125,000
$3,200,000
$300,000
$100,000
$75,000
$250,000
$5,025,000
Ongoing salary costs
$590,000
Existing Funds/Mill Levy
Moving Expenses: # of Teachers x 12 hours x $ 20/hr
Approximately 50 x 12 x $20 = $12,000
Other = $6,000
Existing Funds
TOTAL
$5,633,000
PROJECT ACTION III: Repurpose Skyline as an Elementary
Pages
13-15
PROJECT RATIONALE:
 It was originally designed as an elementary school when it was built in 1970.
It is one of the District’s newest buildings.
 Growth is happening on the westside. New housing developments are
proposed in the Skyline area.
 It would provide more elementary classrooms that would be necessary due
to the repurposing of West Elementary into a middle school.
 The administrative and support staff currently at West would be transferred
to Skyline with no additional costs.
 The basic entitlement for an elementary school would be transferred to
Skyline. The District would have to follow legal processes for closing and
opening elementary schools.
PROJECT IMPACTS AND/OR CONSEQUENCES:
 Redistribution of the 426 West K-5 students projected for the 2016-2017
school year:
 Requires change in boundaries for the westside elementary schools
 Requires significant bussing and transportation modifications
 Requires relocation of the Early Learning programs. See Project Action IV.
 Requires the termination of leases with Headstart, the MSU Extension Agency
and the Parent Participation preschool. There is loss of revenue associated
with these leases not continuing.
 Requires current staffing changes
◦ Placement of all of West’s K-5 teachers
Skyline Renovations:
Due to being repurposed into other educational configurations
since its closure as an elementary school in 1979, it will require
major renovations and new construction
Addition of gymnasium:
Replace blacktop:
Drop off pick-up area for parents/students:
Carpet:
Addition/removal of interior walls (Includes electrical):
Fire Alarm upgrades:
Intercom:
Data:
Air Conditioning:
TOTAL
$800,000
$ 75,000
$160,000
$100,000
$300,000
$ 60,000
$ 30,000
$ 50,000
$200,000
$1,775,000
PROJECT ACTION IV: Relocation of Early Learning
programs from Skyline
Pages
15-16
PROJECT OVERVIEW: Relocate the Early Learning programs into regionally
located preschools in existing spaces at:
 Longfellow Elementary Annex (two classrooms) with eventual new space built
in the newly constructed Longfellow Elementary School
 Chief Jo Elementary Annex (two classrooms)
 Mountain View Elementary (two classrooms)
PROJECT RATIONALE:
◦ Preschools would be in better proximity to students.
◦ Special education classrooms could be located along with the title and grant preschools.
◦ Creates a model for additional growth in Early Learning programs








PROJECT IMPACTS AND/OR CONSEQUENCES:
Requires significant bussing and transportation modifications
Disrupts current program
Associated costs of moving
Requires the termination of leases with Headstart, the MSU Extension Agency
and the Parent Participation preschool. This will result in a loss of revenue as
well.
Requires the relocation of the Care Program and the Alliance for Youth from
Chief Joseph Annex.
Requires room modifications to Longfellow and Chief Joseph Annexes.
Requires modifications to the storage space at Mountain View Elementary.
PROJECT COST ESTIMATES
AND PROPOSED FUNDING
SOURCES
Moving costs
Existing Funds
Minimal renovation costs Existing Funds
Etc.
Existing Funds
Total estimate
$50,000
PROJECT ACTION V: Construction of a New Elementary
School on Rancho Grande Property
Pages
16-17
PROJECT RATIONALE:
 A new school would house the 440 students displaced (500 minus 60
6th graders) if West becomes a middle school
 Maintain the elementary basic entitlement payment of West
 Would only potentially need to change boundaries for Meadowlark
and West Elementary current students
 Would alleviate the need to repurpose Skyline into an elementary
school which would alleviate the need to relocate the preschool
programs. This could always be an option in the future depending on
enrollment increases.
PROJECT IMPACTS AND/OR CONSEQUENCES:
 Would require a bond election
 Would require boundary changes
 Requires bussing and transportation modifications
PROJECT COSTS:
 Construction of a new school on undeveloped property - $16 M
Bond Levy
 Moving expenses
Existing Resources
ADDRESSING BUILDING STATUS
Upgrade GFHS
Upgrade CMR and construct a multipurpose
space
 Replace Roosevelt Elementary with new
construction on Lowell site
 Replace Longfellow Elementary with new
construction on current site
 Upgrade infrastructure in all PK-8 buildings
except Longfellow and Roosevelt
 Athletic Venue Upgrades
 Air Conditioning


Athletic Venue Upgrades
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
 Install artificial turf on memorial field
 Resurface the Memorial Stadium track
 Renovate and resurface the CMR High School Tennis Courts
Pages
30-31
PROJECT RATIONALE:
 Artificial turf offers:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦

Lower maintenance costs
No pesticides or fertilizers
Fewer injuries
Water savings
Increased playing time and field access
Eliminates the need for periodic “Crowning” of natural field surface (expensive)
It makes sense that the Memorial track would be resurfaced at the same time
that the field is being renovated due to the extensive nature of that construction.
The track needs to be periodically resurfaced due to:
◦ The heavy use and wear over time
◦ Freezing and thawing effects the subsurface and overcoat layers
The CMR Tennis courts are also susceptible to extensive freezing and thawing
and heavy use. The fencing around the courts is in ill-repair as well. Therefore,
they need to be renovated in the very near future.
 Money has been being set aside for these projects (Revenue Enhancement Fund)

PROJECT IMPACTS AND/OR
CONSEQUENCES:
 The timing of the construction of memorial field
would be crucial for football season. If the
construction began as soon as the spring track
season ended, the field would be complete for the
fall football season.
 If artificial turf is not installed, the surface needs to
be crowned in the near future.
 The proposed upgrades will provide improved
opportunities for both high schools and extended
access by the community for Memorial field use.
 The proposed projects can be partially paid for by
reserve funds that the district is currently holding.
However, the remaining costs will require passage
of a bond/building reserve levy.
PROJECT COST ESTIMATES AND
PROPOSED FUNDING SOURCES:
Area
Artificial turf Memorial Stadium
Track upgrades at Memorial Stadium
CMR tennis court renovation
Total
Cost
$800,000
$225,000
$180,000
$1,205,000
Sources of Funding:
◦ Existing Reserve Funds:
$300,000 Revenue Enhancement Fund
$200,000 Facility Upgrade
$500,000 Total Reserves
◦ Bond or Building Reserve Levy: $705,000
Air Conditioning
PROJECT RATIONALE:
 Air conditioning offers more comfortable environment for
students, staff and the public when in District buildings
Page
32
PROJECT IMPACTS AND/OR CONSEQUENCES:
 Air conditioning requires twice the air flow heating does and
most of our buildings are not equipped to handle A/C so most
would require substantial work.
 Due to the high electrical demand of A/C, most of the District’s
electrical services would have to be upgraded to accommodate
these large units.
 All units in this scope are high efficiency units, some with heat
recovery and economizing capabilities.
 GFHS requires a heat pump system to minimize building
alterations due to the historical designation.
 Skyline, Mountain View, North and CMR already have some of the
infrastructure in place.
PROJECT COST ESTIMATES AND PROPOSED FUNDING SOURCES:
CMR Fieldhouse
CMR Main Building
CMR Auditorium
Subtotal
GFHS Fieldhouse
GFHS Main Building
GFHS Auditorium
Subtotal
North Gym
North Remainder
Subtotal
East Gym
East Remainder
Subtotal
Paris Gibson
11 Elementary x $450,000
(All except LF, RS, West, Skyline & MV)
1 Elementary x $200,000
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
650,000
1,250,000
270,000
2,170,000
750,000
2,250,000
150,000
3,150,000
375,000
300,000
675,000
375,000
750,000
1,125,000
1,000,000
4,950,000
$
200,000
TOTAL
$13,270,000
(MV)
Technology

TBD
Project Subtotals
ADDRESSING INCREASING ENROLLMENT
Page
33
PROJECT ACTION I: 6th Grade Move and PGEC as a MS:
Paris Gibson Conversion (includes air conditioning)
Education Center Relocation
Total
$ 2,083,000
$ 1,200,000
$ 3,283,000
PROJECT ACTION II, III & IV: 6th Grade Move and West as a MS:
West Conversion (includes air conditioning)
Skyline Conversion (includes air conditioning)
Early Learning Relocation
Total
$ 5,633,000
$ 1,775,000
$
50,000
$ 7,458,000
PROJECT ACTION V: 6th Grade Move to West and Build a New Elementary:
Rancho Grande Elementary School
West Conversion (includes air conditioning)
Total
$16,000,000
$ 5,633,000
$21,649,000
ADDRESSING BUILDING STATUS CONCERNS:
GFHS Updates
CMR Updates and Multipurpose Space
Roosevelt
Longfellow
PK-8 Infrastructure
Athletic Facility Upgrades
Air Conditioning
Total
$37,677,000
$ 7,453,864
$16,200,000
$15,000,000
$ 8,107,512
$ 705,000
$12,270,000
$97,413,376
Board Discussion
Public Comment
Next Steps
Adjourn