Glasgow Scottie Upcoming Facilities Bond Tidbits

The election will be administered by the Valley County Election Administrator and will be a mail-ballot election.

Ballots will be mailed out on Sept. 29 and must be returned by Oct. 17.

Tidbit 1

What will the proposed $8.58 Million Dollar Facility Improvements Bond include?

#1 – Replace the failed 80-year-old boiler at Glasgow High School to assure our students will have adequate heat in the winter months.

#2 – Extensively repair damaged roofs at Glasgow High School and Glasgow Middle School to assure that we can keep the inside of our buildings free from the outside elements and avoid partial or potentially complete structural collapse.

#3 – Replace the failing asphalt track with a Post-Tensioned Concrete All-Weather Track at Scottie Field to assure we can continue to hold annual regular season events and large postseason events for the community of Glasgow.

#4 – Replace the unsafe natural grass football field with Synthetic All-Weather Field Turf at Scottie Field to assure player and officials’ safety and turn the complex into a “Community Bowl” that can be used year-round by the youth and elderly of Valley County.

#5 – Replace the partially-failed incandescent lights with cost-effective LED light technology at Scottie Field to assure the facility can be used for school and community events in the evenings.

#6 – Fix the traffic circle in front of Irle Elementary School to alleviate student and parent concerns and make the area safer and more efficient during high-frequency travel times (AM drop off and PM pick up)

Tidbit 2

When would construction begin? What is the timeline for completion of each school bond project?

Boiler installation is currently underway at Glasgow High School, under an emergency loan, and is expected to be completed before this winter hits!

Crews would begin Scottie Field renovations as early as May 23, 2024. The turf field would be ready for our first Home Football game on Friday, Sept 6, 2024. The Track would be completed before the snow flies and it would be ready for the Scottie Invitational on Friday, April 4, 2025. Fall and spring athletes would NOT miss a season on the home facility.

Both the GHS and GMS roof repairs would be completed in the spring/summer of 2024 and be ready for students the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

With the available funding; architectural work on the Irle School traffic circle would begin in the winter of 2024-25 with a goal of beginning construction in June of 2025.

Tidbit 3

How old is Scottie Field? When was it last updated?

Construction began in 1976; but funding was an issue and slowed its overall process to a virtual standstill. In 1978, the Glasgow Sports Club, accepted the challenge to sponsor the project and assist the district in its completion.

The dream was not realized, however, until the grandstands were erected when a Bond Levy was passed by the voting public in the spring of 1982. On April 10, 1982 the Scottie Invitational Track Meet was the first event held in the new complex. By fall of 1982 the Scotties were playing football adjacent to Glasgow High School.

There have been NO updates made to the football playing surface other than routine maintenance and upkeep since its inception.

An asphalt base for the track at Scottie Field was completed on Sept. 1, 1981. There have been NO updates to the asphalt base of the track since its inception. The track has received two rubberized resurfaces in its lifespan; one on Oct. 10, 1990, and the other on Sept. 18, 2000. The only other repairs on record are a rubberized surface patching on Oct. 31, 1997, and a Re-Spray/Re-Stripe on Sept. 10, 2006.

Tidbit 4

How long have plans been in place to address the facility concerns listed in the upcoming school bond?

- For Scottie Field it was 12+ years ago, the spring of 2012, when planning began for a March 13, 2013, bond election to address a deteriorating athletic facility.

- For the boilers it was spring of 2023 when one of our two boilers at Glasgow High School failed while the weather was still cold.

- For the roofs it was spring of 2023 when the School District contracted with McKinstry to complete a facility needs assessment that produced alarming information about GHS and GMS.

Tidbit 5

How old are Glasgow Middle School and Glasgow High School?

Glasgow High School and Glasgow Middle School have both been serving the community for over a half a century and the bones of both buildings are holding up quite well, however, during a recent contracted facility assessment the Glasgow School District received alarming reports on the conditions of both roofs. It was recommended that both roofs undergo extensive renovations to prevent further deterioration, including any partial or complete structural collapse.

Glasgow High School is in its 55th school year. It opened in August of 1969.

Glasgow Middle School is in its 63rd school year. It opened in August of 1961.

Tidbit 6

How many school-related events are currently held annually on Scottie Field? Do we anticipate more opportunities with an UPDATED facility?

Glasgow High School and Glasgow Middle School use Scottie Field for many athletic events each school year to give our kids an opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd and to help stimulate the economy of Glasgow and Valley County. Based on a 10-year average; these are the school-related events currently being held on Scottie Field:

Football– 11 to 14 Games Per Year

Five Varsity Regular Season Games, One Annual Red and White Scrimmage, Four Junior Varsity Games, Four Middle School Games (including the three-school Jamboree), One or two Varsity Playoff Football Games; with potential for four playoff games in a given season.

Track & Field– 11 Meets Per Year

Four to five Regular Season HS Meets, One Regular Season MS Meets, two to four HS/MS Postseason Meets, one GHS Stuco Special Olympics Meet.

Yes! A new facility will allow us to keep the longest-running Top 10 Meet in the state in our community of Glasgow! It will open up opportunities for further postseason dates in Track & Field and allow us the ability to pursue a Class C Football Pre-Season Showcase (like the one we host for Basketball in December). We would also bid on any potential neutral site 8 Man State Football Championship Games through the MHSA. Day 7’s Tidbit will highlight non-school related and other opportunities that will be possible with an artificial surface at Scottie Field.

Tidbit 7

What events/activities could be moved to Scottie Field if an artificial surface is installed?

– Glasgow Recreation Department Activities! Including third to fourth grade Flag Football, fifth to sixth grade grade Tackle Football, Youth Soccer Leagues for ALL ages of Glasgow youth, and countless outdoor summer youth programs.

– Youth Baseball/Softball Practices! The 8U 11U and 14U Glasgow Softball Association leagues, T-Ball, Cal Ripken Minor League, Cal Ripken Major League, Babe Ruth, and the Glasgow Reds Legion Program would have a suitable place to practice when weather or field conditions are less than suitable.

– HOPE Annual Event! (formerly Northeast Montana Relay for Life). This long-term event that used to be held at Scottie Field was moved due to concerns over field use and ultimately the event was never the same after moving locations. Is a revival possible?

– GHS Physical Education Classes / Sports Cross-Training! Our Grade’s 9-12 kids will see expanded education opportunities outside of the gymnasium as the game field would become usable in the fall and the spring while school is in session.

– HS Football Team Practice! We would be able to practice every day on our game field and eliminate the costs associated with maintaining the grass practice fields.

– Outdoor Entertainment Venue! Community Movie Nights, Fundraisers, Dances, Concerts, Weddings are possible.

– Community Bowl! Facility would be open 24/7-365 days a year for community use. Open gate policy on Scottie Field will continue and be enhanced for the youth, adult, and senior citizen population.