Great Falls Tribune: Daines announces $2.5M for tribal schools

HELENA — Sen. Steve Daines announced Wednesday that Lodge Grass Elementary and Heart Butte school districts were awarded nearly $2.5 million in construction grants for fiscal year 2016 to be used for emergency health and safety conditions in school facilities.

They are among seven educational agencies nationwide to receive Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grants.

“This additional support will help students on the Blackfeet and Crow reservations to have the resources they need to learn,” Daines, R-Mont., said in a news release.

Heart Butte School District will receive $1,764,973 to replace deteriorated and leaking roofs of the high school and elementary school portion of the buildings. The district has 169 students in grades kindergarten through 12 and is on the Blackfeet Reservation. The district will contribute $1,025,274 of its own funds to the project.

Lodge Grass Elementary School District will receive $734,483 to replace plumbing fixtures that have reached their life expectancy. The district serves 186 students on the Crow Reservation.

Daines is a member of the Senate Impact Aid Coalition.