Chief Joseph Elementary School officials and the Parent Teacher Association are moving forward with the first phase of upgrading their playground.

Principal Andrea Thares told the Great Falls Public Schools board during their May 13 meeting that they have some structures on the playground that aren’t safe so they had to be boarded off.

She said the goal was to replace those features as part of the first phase and that the PTA and teachers worked to raise enough to fund that phase, which is $13,573.52 without demolition and $16,073.52 if the district has the old equipment removed.

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Staff said GFPS can complete the demolition within the scope of their summer work at no additional charge to the Chief Jo PTA.

Using the district’s recently established procedure of working in conjunction with schools and the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation, TD&H evaluated the playground and reported that replacing the components in the first phase at Chief Jo doesn’t trigger ADA compliance, so they can move forward with the project with the dollars they’ve raised so far.

Thares said the Chief Jo building is turning 60 soon and she was hoping to have the first phase completed by then.

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Since the Chief Jo PTA reported on the project to the school board during the May 13 meeting, they’ll order the equipment with the goal of having it installed for student use by August.

Thares said the PTA and school staff are continuing to fundraise. She said the second phase includes replacing the whole structure on the west side of the playground, which will be more expensive.

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The school staff and PTA will bring reports to the board for notice or approval as they continue their efforts to upgrade the Chief Jo playground.