Facility Progress for BCSD
As we begin the last quarter of the 2022-2023 school year, it is time to provide a facilities update for Boundary County School District No. 101.
We continue to work diligently to protect the safety of our students and staff, be proactive in our maintenance, and be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. All our efforts over the last three years are a reflection of input from our Facilities Committee, school safety assessments, and input from staff. We maximize the funding available: Forest Funds, supplemental M&O levy funds, ESSER and additional general fund dollars when needed or available.
The following projects have been completed or are currently projected to be completed this summer, if Forest Funds are received:
Mount Hall Elementary
• Blinds replaced, yearly
• HVAC maintenance, 2020-21/summer 2023
• Water heater, 2020-2021
• Classroom flooring, 2020-2021
• Exterior doors replaced, 2021-2022
• Major remodel (plumbing, electrical, bathrooms, office, sick room, hallways), 2022-2023
• Additional HVAC, summer 2023
• Interior door replacements, summer 2023
• Kitchen/cafeteria flooring, summer 2023
• Fence — partial replacement, summer 2023
Naples Elementary
• Removal of portable (safety), 2020-21
• Walkway torn down (safety), 2020-21
• Lock at south gate, 2020-21
• Moved office (safety), 2020-21
• Classroom flooring, 2020-21
• Major remodel (four new classrooms, siding replaced, hallway, office completion, new roof, painted), summer 2023
• Removal of last portable, summer 2023
Valley View Elementary
• Gym floor finished, yearly
• Fencing — partial addition, summer 2023
• Glycol removal — HVAC, summer 2023
• Boundary County Middle School:
• Ice maker, 2020-21
• Sprinklers (front lawn), 2020-21
• Classroom flooring, 2020-21
• Gym floor finished, yearly
• Asphalt (south end), 2021-22
• Drainage improvements, summer 2023
• Condenser replaced, summer 2023
• Parking lot striping, summer 2023
• Engineer work to begin HVAC work summer 2024, summer 2023
Bonners Ferry High School
• Secure entry way (safety), 2020-21
• Sidewalk replacement, 2020-2021
• Softball/baseball field repair, 2020-21
• Softball concession stand, 2020-21
• Classroom flooring, 2020-21
• Gym floor finished, yearly
• Drainage improvements, 2021-22
• Asphalt (north end, football field), 2021-22
• Auditorium/gym roof replacement, summer 2023
• Boiler upgrades, summer 2023
• Auditorium projector and curtains, summer 2023
• Upper parking lot improvement, summer 2023
District
• LED lighting upgrades, 2020-21
• Bus barn — concrete pads, summer 2023
Each year, we review our 10-year plan, ask for input from all our employees, and identify preventative maintenance that will save the community money in the long term. In the table above, we have identified major projects, but please remember that maintenance is occurring year around.
Our greatest facility challenge right now is the need to replace Valley View Elementary. After two failed bonds in March and August 2022, the safety concerns and infrastructure concerns did not disappear.
Our Facilities Committee met in January with four options to address the concerns at Valley View: 1) leave as is, 2) start improvements, 3) look at a bond option, or 4) look at a plant facilities levy. Each option was analyzed based on the financial impact and timetable.
Additionally, we factored in the community response to our last bonds. The committee did not recommend any of these options. The Facilities Committee did the initial hard work and made the recommendation to our community that Valley View needs to be replaced, so it was recommended to turn the issue over to the state.
This recommendation was accepted. State inspectors visited the district April 6. We will communicate updates received from the state.
The Facilities Committee will continue to meet twice a year for recommendations and completion reports. We value the hard work of our staff and community. Continuing to make improvements is a team effort.