Page 11 - Flathead Beacon // 9.21.16

NEWS
School Bond Requests Arrive in Voters’ Mailboxes Kalispell seeking approval to build new elementary school, address deferred maintenance
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
Residents in Kalispell and the surrounding area received mail-in ballots this week for two school bond requests for a total of roughly $54 million.
Kalispell Public Schools is seeking voter approval of the bond measures in the elementary and high school districts because of persistent overcrowding and aging facilities.
The ballots are due back by Oct. 4.
dtabish@ atheadbeacon.com
ELEMENTARY BOND REQUEST
Encompassing Kalispell city limits
NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UPGRADE/REMODEL EXISTING K-5 SCHOOLS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AT K-5 SCHOOLS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AT MIDDLE SCHOOL
TOTAL COST IMPACT ON TAXPAYERS
HOME VALUE
$170,655 (KALISPELL MEDIAN) $200,000
$300,000
$400,000
225
$15.18 MILLION $6.25 MILLION $3.42 MILLION
$412,000
$25.28 MILLION
YEARLY
$99.68 $116.82 $175,23 $233.64
MONTHLY
$8.31
$9.74 $14.61 $19.48
Students over capacity at Kalispell’s ve elementary schools. The newest el- ementary school — Edgerton — was built in 1987 and the oldest elementary school — Hedges — was built in 1929. School o cials say deferred mainte- nance and other issues have emerged in each of the facilities along with over- crowding. Many families have also been unable to send their students to their neighborhood school due to over lled classrooms, school o cials say.
450
Capacity, in students, at the elementary school proposed on Airport Road. The school district bought the 25-acre land two years ago hoping to build a new elementary site with bond funds. The new school would relieve pressure on each of the other ve schools.
3,018
Students in Kalispell’s ve elementary schools and middle school last fall, the most on record and 521 more than 10 years ago. As Kalispell’s population grows at the second fastest rate in Montana, school o cials say enrollment will continue to swell, putting outsized pressure on the existing schools.
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE/RENOVATION PROPOSALS
- Roof repairs
- Replacing outdated and ine cient heating and ventilation systems
- Safety and security improvements, including updating re alarm systems, installing security cameras, one-button classroom lockdown systems and updating the public address systems
- New gymnasium space at Russell, Peterson and Elrod; renovate existing gym space into exible teaching/multi-use areas
- Create new multi-purpose room at Hedges and cafeteria renovations to add teaching space
- Renovate and improve existing spaces to increase teaching space
HIGH SCHOOL BOND REQUEST
Encompassing Kalispell city limits and 13 surrounding rural districts in the county
FLATHEAD DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND RENOVATIONS AG-CENTER RENOVATIONS
LINDERMAN RENOVATIONS
LEGENDS STADIUM
GLACIER MAINTENANCE
TOTAL COST IMPACT ON TAXPAYERS
HOME VALUE
$170,655 (KALISPELL MEDIAN)
$197,563 (COUNTY MEDIAN)
$200,000 $58.46 $300,000 $87.69 $400,000 $116.92
1910
$19.28 MILLION $4.64 MILLION $3.44 MILLION
$958,100 $426,900
The year parts of Flathead High School were built. The half- oor sections of the school are outdated and deteriorating. They are also not in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The original gymnasium is also de- teriorating.
1939
The year Linderman was built. The education center serves 165 students with a regular waiting list of 80. The school, which is in its fourth year after the district merged Bridge Academy and Laser Alternative School, sta s 10 full-time teach- ers and four-part time teachers, as well as two teacher assistants. The district is proposing to renovate the entire building and create new learning space and a new library/information commons, and also bring the building up to safety codes and address deferred maintenance, such as roof repair.
1977
The year of the last major upgrade and renovation of Legends Stadium, former- ly Rawson Field, which houses athletic events for Flathead and Glacier high schools as well as youth organizations. The district is proposing to address aging bleachers and drainage issues on the eld along with other renovations. The eld would also be renovated, making it safer and more usable, according to district o cials.
1978
The year the Agriculture Center was built. It has not received a major update since its inception. The school district is proposing to add six classrooms and a science lab to the existing space; expand the shop areas to house welding pro- grams and renovate the animal care facility; build two new commons areas to allow for learning sessions; and address deferred maintenance. The additions would allow the high schools to accommodate another 150 kids and 75 more students at the agriculture center, according to administrators.
2007
The year Glacier High School opened. Nine years later, school o cials are propos- ing to address maintenance needs, parking lot repairs and sidewalk repairs.
$28.76 MILLION
YEARLY
MONTHLY
$3.65 $4.16 $4.87 $7.31 $9.74
$49.89 $57.75
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