Kalispell voters approved a $3.35 million bond request for the elementary school district, Kalispell Public Schools announced.
Of the ballots received, 3,798 were for the bond, and 2,575 were against it, according to the school district. Seven ballots were considered “spoiled.”
School district outreach coordinator Mike Kofford said the district was “thrilled” with the high voter participation rate; 13,051 were sent out, and 6,380 were returned. That’s nearly 49 percent, Kofford noted.
The bond will build a new central kitchen on district property by Kalispell Middle school, four new classrooms at Edgerton Elementary and four new classrooms and a multi-purpose room at Peterson Elementary. The projects will help with ongoing overcrowding concerns and address safety and health issues at the current central kitchen site.
“We are all breathing a sigh of relief and are grateful for the community support we received on this bond issue,” Superintendent Darlene Schottle said in a statement. “Our teachers and students have worked very hard to maintain standards as our classrooms have continued to grow.”
Construction on the new projects could begin as early as October, with classroom additions complete by September 2013 and the kitchen by July 2014. Voter approval of a May 2012 levy provided $212,000 in staff support; passage of this bond will now create spaces for improved learning environments.