District receives grant to connect elementary and high schools

School officials learned last week that Ekalaka Elementary District #15 was selected for a $750,000 grant. The money, awarded by the Montana Department of Commerce Community Development Division, is to be granted “for the construction of a connecting wing between the elementary and high school buildings to secure the entrance and playground security,” according to a letter from the governor’s office notifying the school.

In the grant application, Ekalaka Public Schools Business Manager Lora Tauck explained that the original design for the new elementary school included a connecting wing from the building to the existing high school. The bond amount for the school was $5.6 million per the architect’s determination. Yet, when the plan went to bid, the build amount came in at $6,862,572, just over $1.2 million over the bond. Due to the shortfall, the District was forced to downsize the building and cut the connecting wing.

The elementary and high schools share a Superintendent, District Clerk, kitchen and all other school facilities and amenities. Both buildings are used by all staff and students. The hot lunch program is in the high school building, as is the band room, main gym and Superintendent’s office. The weight room, utilized by high school students, is located in the grade school building, as is the Special Education department, practice gym and conference room. Students and staff go back and forth daily and have to dress for the elements every time they move between buildings, losing valuable teaching time. Individual safety is a main concern, as students are locked out of the buildings when passing between them. Currently there are two offices (one in each building) where the public can enter. They have full and immediate access to the entire building before staff can speak to them or identify their purpose for visiting.

The grant is one of several around the state that were awarded as part of the Delivering Local Assistance Program, a program created in 2019 to support communities impacted by natural resource development. The state-funded program established through House Bill 652 authorizes funds to be awarded to local governments and school districts to complete infrastructure projects. In total, $21.5 million in grants was made available, half for local infrastructure projects and the other half for school projects. The state received 191 applications in total, requesting nearly $83 million. The program also had a cap of $1.5 million per county and a $750,000 cap per grant, the amount the school was awarded.

The school board building and grounds committee does have renderings for the building connector from an architect, but that plan can still be altered, or a completely new plan could be put in its place.

“The board can still get a second opinion if they choose,” Tauck said.

The board will meet this week for the first time since officials heard that the school will be awarded the money.

Tauck submitted the grant application last September. She said that since they just found out about the grant, they are unsure of the timeline and expected completion date of the project. It depends on what plan the board decides to use and on several other variables, she said.

“It could be this summer, pending the availability of a contractor, or, at the latest, it would have to be done by the end of next summer.”

Tauck called upon County Treasurer Jesi Pierson for a lot of useful information when writing the grant. She also said that the Southeast Montana Area Revitalization Team (SMART) office in Baker, was a huge help in completing the grant application.

Shanny Gion, a grant writer for SMART, took an entire day to help her complete the 17 pages. “I wouldn’t have gotten it done without her,” she said.

Other area applicants that were awarded funding include Powder River County District High School which received $750,000 to replace the roof and Glendive Public Schools which received $750,000 to replace plumbing and reconstruct bathrooms.