CMR auditorium renovation underway
Renovation of the C.M. Russell High School auditorium is underway, funded by donors through the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation.
During the July 13 school board meeting, Superintendent Heather Hoyer said painting was underway, including covering the formerly magenta surfaces.
She said the goal is to have the auditorium work completed in time for holiday concerts.
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Cushing Terrell is the project architect and GFPS staff are currently doing the painting, remodeling, and basic technology, Hoyer told The Electric.
She said specialists will likely assist when the lighting and sound work is done, as well as specialized technology installation.
“It is going to be beautiful. I am proud of the partnership between the foundation and our skilled trades/IT folks to help pull this together within the budget,” Hoyer said.
GFPS moving forward with CMR auditorium project [2024]
The donor-funded project began with a $1 million gift the foundation received in 2022.
Initially, the foundation and donor focused their plans for the funding on renovating the C.M. Russell High auditorium, with a focus on improving acoustics, lighting and the stage area.
Expecting that the renovation costs might exceed the initial donation, the donor partnered with the foundation on a matching fundraising campaign for an additional $500,000 toward the project, a goal that was met in 2025.
District officials explored various funding sources for the abatement work associated with the renovation project, but were unable to secure the necessary funding for the full-scale project.
Adjusting, the foundation worked with the initial donor and the district, determining that the $500,000 raised in 2025 would be used toward improvements to the CMR auditorium audio system, stage lighting and sound booth. That work is expected to be completed by the end of the 2026-2027 school year, according to the foundation.
After considerable discussion, it was decided to use the initial $1 million donation to ensure GFPS arts education would be enhanced for years to come by establishing a permanent fund for GFPS Arts intended to support student programming for performing and visual arts in perpetuity.
“While the foundation cannot provide core funding for staffing positions, we can provide some assurance that innovation in student learning can still be a reality despite tight budgets. We know that when we inspire and equip educators to take learning to the next level, our students and our community are the ultimate beneficiaries,” Stephanie Becker, former GFPS Foundation director, said in a March 2026 release. “We are deeply grateful for the donor’s willingness to come alongside us to think creatively, to brainstorm solutions, and to envision something grand for Great Falls Public Schools students and teachers.”
The foundation plans to disburse $35,000 to $40,000 from the fund annually toward potential uses such as partnerships with local arts organizations, residency opportunities and support for student experiences, according to the foundation.
The first disbursement will be made available for use in the 2026-2027 school year and further information will be released as details are finalized.
GFPS Foundation receives $1 million donation for CMR auditorium renovation
“The Fund for GFPS Arts will offer students in our community unique, impactful, and innovative learning opportunities. The anonymous donor’s investment in this area is a testament to the strength and vibrancy of performing and visual arts in Great Falls Public Schools,” Becker said in a release. “We are grateful that this donor has entrusted the foundation and Great Falls Public Schools to develop something that will benefit students in our community for generations to come.”
The GFPS board voted in April 2024 to accept the anonymous $1 million donation for the CMR auditorium.
Cushing Terrell Architects designed a scope of work and developed bid documents.
The original plan had one contract for asbestos removal and improvements to the auditorium, but when the district bid in 2024, it received one bid that came in too high. The school board rejected the bid that summer.
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In October 2024, Brian Patrick, former GFPS business operations manager, said 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 decided to split the project.
The first phase would be asbestos removal and that work was done in the summer of 2025.
If bids were reasonable, Patrick, said, they’d 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 Alliance, for asbestos removal.
The grant required a 20 percent match from the district, according to Patrick.
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The asbestos removal had to be done before the auditorium renovation can proceed.
A formal assessment of the auditorium was conducted from September 2022 through February 2023 to determine needs for the space.
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, including acoustics, sound and lighting, according to a 2023 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 an independent appraisal value of their gift for IRS purposes, according to the staff report.
*GFPS photo
