Coal Board Fully Funds School Grant

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

The Colstrip Public School District grant application to the Montana Coal Board for ADA Compliance Modification and Improvements to the Colstrip High School Gymnasium was fully funded for $473,550.00 at the Montana Coal Board meeting on June 20, 2019. Of that amount $207,224.00 was a cash award and the remaining $266,326.00 is contingency biennium funding beginning July 1, 2019 (first priority).

This has been a project in the making for over a year with community strategic planning meetings, numerous board meetings and facility committee meetings.  There is so much work and planning that goes into a competitive grant process. It is such a thrill to see this project funded. When the award was unanimously approved by the Coal Board, I wanted to jump up, do a fist pump and cheer; however, I settled for a smile and the opportunity to thank the Coal Board. This award couldn't have come at a better time for our town and school.

Colstrip was awarded the grant to address ADA issues in our gymnasium seating and address the safety concerns with our gym floor. As for myself, I have helped too many people get up after falling down with our current bleacher system. Finding handicap seating is also been a problem. I know that tournaments bring a large number of people with disabilities and needs. It will be nice for them to have handrails and appropriate access to sit in the bleachers. 

The award not only addresses the need to replace the current gymnasium bleachers with ADA compliant bleachers as well as sanding, painting and refinishing of the gym floor, it also will allow the school district to address it's deferred maintenance list that totals over $3.5 million dollars. Anything we can do to help offset these types of expenses will certainly help minimize the taxpayers obligation and burden.

The Coal Board's support of this grant application will be experienced by thousands of southeastern Montanans in a single year. In fact, the district basketball tournament alone brings thousands of spectators, family members and fans by itself. This grant will be shared by all of our surrounding communities.

There are so many to thank for this award, and in the process, that I don't know where to start without leaving someone out. Whether you attended a strategic planning meeting, board meeting, facilities meeting or a ball game and mentioned the need to better serve the handicapped and the safety of students and community alike, thank you.  Thank you to those that stood along side and represented our school and community and provided a testimonial at the Coal Board Meeting: Brent Burton, Bruce Brown, Tyler Bush, Jim Atchison, Joanne Schrupp and Jody Bird Williams. Thank you supporting legislators like Representative Kenneth Holmlund, Senator Barry Usher and Senator Duane Ankney, just to name a few, for their continued support of the Coal Board. Special thanks to our Mayor John Williams for his leadership and guidance throughout this whole process.

Most of all, thank you Montana Coal Board and Staff for seeing the need and the opportunities here in Colstrip Montana. The Coal Board is 100% funded by Montana coal severance tax. With that, I would humbly ask our community to thank the Coal Board Members for their support:

John Williams, Chair
Colstrip, MT
District 2
Field: Impact Area
john.williams@mt.gov
Term: March 10, 2017 to January 1, 2021

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Sidney Fitzpatrick, Vice Chair
Hardin, MT
District 2
Field: Impact Area
sidney.fitzpatrick@mt.gov
Term: March 10, 2017 to January 1, 2021

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Sean Smith
Anaconda, MT
District 1
Field: Business

Term: May 31, 2019 to January 1, 2021

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Marianne Roose
Eureka, MT
District 1
Field: Public Administration
marianne.roose@mt.gov
Term: February 15, 2019 to January 1, 2023

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Veronica Small-Eastman
Lodge Grass, MT
District 2
Field: Education
veronica.small-eastman@mt.gov
Term: February 15, 2019 to January 1, 2023

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Tim Schaff
Roundup, MT
District 2
Field: Education
tim.schaff@mt.gov
Term: February 15, 2019 to January 1, 2023

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Amber Henning
Missoula, MT
District 1
Field: Attorney
amber.henning@mt.gov
Term: January 26, 2018 to January 1, 2021