The Great Falls Public Schools board voted during their Sept. 22 meeting to approve a construction bid for the Great Falls High School shop renovation.

The district is remodeling the former GFH shop area into a district-wide enhanced learning center that may be used by all schools.

It’s one GFPS project being funded through the Montana innovative educational tax credit program, a tax credit program created during the 2021 Legislature that allows residents to make a cash donation to their local public schools and individuals or companies can contribute up to $200,000 per year for educational programs. Married taxpayers filing jointly may take a tax credit of up to $400,000 for each tax credit, according to the Montana Department of Revenue.

To date, GFPS has received about $2 million though the program.

GFPS claims $916,188 in state tax credits

For the GFH shop renovation, district staff worked with TD&H Engineering on the design and bidding process.

The district received seven bids for the project and the lowest qualified bidder was Wadsworth Builders Company with $1,191,900 for the base bid and $104,000 for one of the alternates, for a project total of $1,296,300.

The alternate includes the replacement of all light fixtures in the old auto shop area as well as demolition of the vintage air handlers and exhaust/ventilation systems in the old auto and welding shops.

GFPS, local attorneys encouraging participating in educational tax credit program [2024]

Over the history of the tax credit program, GFPS raised a total of $2,103,288, ranking first among Montana AA district for three consecutive years, and has grown from one contributor the first year, to four the second year, 35 last year and 46 this year.

This year, the statewide limit was $6 million.

GFPS could claim up to $1.2 million for the elementary and high school districts for a total $2.4 million this year.

GFPS secured $916,188 in contributions from 46 community members.

Other projects identified by GFPS officials for funding through the tax credit include specialized curriculum related grade level field trips, replacing those that were lost in budget cuts several years ago; and a specialized athletic mental health program.