The first day of school often brings a flurry of sadness and excitement; sadness at the end of another great Flathead Valley summer and excitement for all the potential a new school year holds.
Kalispell’s School District 5 is keeping close watch on that potential, as it sends out ballots for an elementary school bond on Aug. 29. The ballots must be returned by Sept. 12.
The 10-year, $3,350,000 bond would help alleviate classroom overcrowding at the K-2 level in the schools, according to SD5 Superintendent Darlene Schottle. The money would pay for eight new classrooms – four in Peterson Elementary and four in Edgerton Elementary – and a new central kitchen.
Too many students in classrooms pushes the school district on accreditation standards. The standard is 20 students per classroom, and the current Kalispell average for kindergarten through second grade is 24 students.
As of last week, there were 116 kindergarteners enrolled, Schottle said, and the district was above 20 students in all but four classrooms.
“We believe we have honestly looked to every corner of our building to try to find additional learning spaces for our students. And we have added the personnel that we believe will take us into the next year,” Schottle said. “It is very important that we try to find classroom space.”
Last year, Peterson Elementary transported 100 students from surrounding neighborhoods to other schools due to overcrowding.
While School District 5 has not been successful with high school building levies lately – three have failed in the past three years – the elementary levies have gained support from the community.
In March, voters approved a $211,500 operational levy for the elementary schools, which went toward hiring personnel to deal with the rising enrollment numbers. The school district has gained 500 students in the last 10 years.
Schottle believes the upcoming bond will be successful, largely due to its relatively short-term nature and how low interest rates are. If the bond is approved, homeowners with a house valued at $100,000 would see an annual tax increase of $9.48. Homeowners with homes valued at $200,000 would have yearly tax increases of $18.95.
The current interest rate for a 10-year bond sits at around 2.5 percent, and the school district does not believe such a favorable rate will likely be available in the future.
“We’re feeling very positive (about the bond),” Schottle said.
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Substitute teacher Cindi Sullivan, left, leads Pat Brandeberry’s kindergarten class in an early morning counting lesson at Edgerton Elementary School last year in Kalispell. file photo by lido Vizzutti | Flathead Beacon |
The total cost for the Edgerton Elementary project would be $ 911,916.75, according to the school district. The Peterson Elementary project would sit at about $1,370,382.
Construction on the new classrooms would begin in January and would be expected to run through June, with site completion in July. The additional classrooms would help avoid building a new elementary school, which the school district estimates would cost almost $11.1 million.
If the bond passes, $1,217,166 would go toward a new central kitchen for the district. The original facility is located at Flathead High School and was built over 70 years ago. The new central kitchen would be 5,000 square feet and located off Northwest Lane, near Three Mile Drive.
The public is invited to tour Peterson Elementary on Sept. 4 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Since school will be in session, appointments and sign-in times are required. Call Melissa at 751-3737.
There will be a public tour of the central kitchen on Sept. 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Those attending will meet in the Flathead High School food court.
School starts for first through ninth grade on Aug. 29, with grades 10 through 12 starting on Aug. 30. Kindergarten group A starts school on Sept. 4, while kindergarten group B starts on Sept. 5.