Storm Recovery Updates 2026

Parents and families,
This community is amazing. I am so impressed with all our community partners! We are making good progress on getting classrooms ready in all three locations. Our teachers and staff are working super hard to try to get the building ready at Lincoln, as well as the other classrooms (4th Grade Classrooms at Lewis and Clark and the 5th and 6th Grade Classrooms at Paris Gibson Education Center). The plan for returning to school is below.  Please know that significant work around the building will be continuing throughout the day today.  

• K-3 will return to school at Lincoln at 10:00 on 3/11/26.  Please plan on dropping off students around 9:45. All grades will be dropped off on the lower (north) playground.  Parents and families are welcome come see the classrooms and look at the building as the south wing will be completely closed up.  We are also working with City County Health and the Montana DEQ to monitor air quality.  All our partners are working hard to help get the building open.  
• 4th grade, 5th grade and 6th grade plan is below.  
  • 4th Grade will return to class at Lewis and Clark Elementary at 10:00 on Thursday 3/12/26. 
  • 5th and 6th grade will return to class at Paris Gibson Education Center at 9:30 on Thursday 3/12/26.  

Reminder to parents, we will have an informational update tonight at Paris Gibson Education Center in the upstairs library (hub).  The meeting times are below. 

• K-3rd Grades - 4:30-5:00 
• 5th and 6th Grades - 5:00-5:30
• 4th Grade - 5:30-6:00

I am looking forward to seeing everyone and maintaining our Lincoln community. Please rest assured that all our traditions and engagement activities will be maintained. Thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Steve Yates
Principal

Thank you for your patience.  We have a bit of good news.  We’ve had the building inspected, and we will be able to occupy the north end of the building. The plan will be:

• Kindergarten through Third grade and Mrs. Ferradas’s class will be at Lincoln Elementary School.
• Fourth grade will be going to Lewis and Clark. 
• Fifth and Sixth grades will relocate to Paris Gibson Education Center. 

Thanks for understanding that our plan is changing as we adapt to new information from our community partners.  School is still canceled through Tuesday, March 10, for Lincoln students. There will be parent meetings for families with students in grades 4-6 on Tuesday evening at the gym at Paris Gibson Education Center as previously scheduled. There will be no meeting for families with students in grades K-3. We will keep you posted as we have more information throughout the week. 

To Parents & Guardians:

On 3/8/26, the roof at Lincoln Elementary was compromised by wind.  This has caused significant damage to the building's structure to the point that the building cannot be used at this time.  On Sunday, GFPS worked with Mr. Yates at Lincoln and the District Administration to develop short- and long-term plans for students and teachers.  This plan entails moving students to four different buildings to accommodate the educational needs of all our students.  The goal is to keep classroom teachers and their students together for face-to-face instruction.  Unfortunately, no other school building at GFPS has room for ALL of Lincoln’s classrooms together, but we absolutely appreciate the flexibility and welcome the following four schools are providing for Lincoln students and staff. The plan outlined below allows teacher teams and same-age students to be in their new locations together.  All classes will have the same teacher and classmates, but will be relocated to a different campus. 

• Kindergarten through 2nd will relocate to Longfellow 
• Grades 3-4 will relocate to Lewis and Clark
• Grades 5-6 will relocate to Paris Alternative Center
• Mrs.Ferradas’s room will move to Meadowlark

We know and understand that this is not convenient and will not be easy on our students, families, or staff.  In times of inconvenience, though, we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work through this difficult temporary situation. We are working to maintain Lincoln’s identity and will continue with parent nights and all the other things that make Lincoln special. We will have classroom room numbers and schedules coming soon. Thank you again, for your thoughts and willingness to support Lincoln Elementary during this difficult time.  

We will hold parent information meetings in the gym at Paris Gibson Education Center at the scheduled times below.  The schedule below will allow Mr. Yates and the District Administration to present the plan, provide updates on the building, and discuss short- and long-term plans. 

Parent Info Night: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at Paris Gibson Education Center Gym

• 4:30-5:00- 5-6
• 5:00-5:30- 3-4
• 5:30-6:00- 1-2
• 6:00-6:30- K

On Sunday, March 8, 2026 at approximately 12:00 pm, Great Falls Public Schools (GFPS) Administration was made aware of a portion of the roof at Lincoln Elementary School tearing off as the result of a severe wind event. Obviously, the immediate concerns are for the safety of our students and staff at Lincoln.

The GFPS Administrative team has reviewed Board Policy and Montana Code Annotated on the statutory requirements regarding emergency school closures.  For safety and security reasons, Lincoln Elementary School will be closed on March 9 and March 10, 2026 for students; staff will be on duty at an alternative location. GFPS, Great Falls Police Department (GFPD), and Great Falls Fire Rescue (GFFR) are asking that you please stay away from the Lincoln Elementary School area for safety reasons. The GFPS Administrative team will provide a plan to families to meet statutory requirements for student education.

If you are a staff member, student, or family member at Lincoln Elementary School, please watch Parent Square and GFPS social media/website for more information. Teachers will be in contact with families from their classrooms by Tuesday, March 10, 2026.  Arrangements are being made for lunches for Lincoln students.  Parents will be notified with more information via Parent Square. There will be parent meetings on Tuesday, March 10, 2026; details will be forthcoming from classroom teachers.