Great Falls Public Schools is working to improve the C.M. Russell High School auditorium.

The GFPS Foundation received an anonymous $1 million donation in 2023 for the project and Cushing Terrell Architects designed a scope of work and developed bid documents.

The original plan had one contract for the removal of asbestos and improvements to the auditorium, but when the district bid the project earlier this year, it only received one bid that came in too high. The school board rejected the bid this summer.

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Brian Patrick, GFPS’ business operations manager, told the board during their Oct. 14 meeting, that the initial thought was that it would have been more efficient to do the projects at the same time due to the need for scaffolding, but officials have since decided to split the project.

The first phase will be asbestos removal and that work will begin immediately at the end of this school year, possibly sooner, and Patrick said that will be coordinated with the CMR principal.

If bids are within a reasonable range, Patrick, said, they’ll move forward with the second phase of the project.

The district received a Brownfield grant, which are funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and administered through the Great Falls Development Authority, for the asbestos removal.

The grant requires a 20 percent match from the district, according to Patrick.

The asbestos removal must be done before the auditorium renovation can proceed.

The school board voted unanimously to allow Patrick to put the project out for bid again this winter.

In April 2023, the school board voted to accept the $1 million donation for the CMR auditorium

Stephanie Becker, GFPS foundation director, said in 2023 that “we are so fortunate” to have donors who support improvements for students.

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Becker said a formal assessment of the auditorium was conducted September 2022 through February 2023 to
determine needs for the space.

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The assessment included the collection of feedback surveys from key CMR and GFPS staff; an on-site meeting; and acoustical testing in the auditorium.

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A formal report was compiled by Big Sky Acoustics in February 2023, which provided guidance on focus areas for work in the auditorium, which include acoustics, sound and lighting, according to the staff report.

Addressing the acoustic needs in the auditorium may impact the appearance of the space and recommendations for the renovation in consultation with the district music and art supervisor and GFPS Foundation board members were presented to and approved by the donor, according to the staff report.

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The district selected Cushing Terrell for the project design and engineering work and the firm is developing renderings and a project timeline based on the priority areas, according to the staff report.

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GFPS board policy allows the district to accept gifts that are deemed appropriate and requires donors to obtain independent appraisal value of their gift for IRS purposes, according to the staff report.