Page 10 - Flathead Beacon // 12.16.15

NEWS
Cost Estimates Emerge for Kalispell School Needs
Options and costs for potential facilities come into focus as school district grapples with overcrowded classes and aging facilities
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
Addressing the persistent growth and overcrowding in Kalispell’s elementary school district could cost between $24- $50 million for new facilities and main- tenance, according to preliminary esti- mates presented last week by planners.
After nearly six months of meet- ing with a local group of parents, sta and administrators, Steve L’Heau- rex of L’Heurex Page Werner and Tom Heinecke of Morrison-Maierle revealed the initial cost estimates for a variety of options for building a new school or mul- tiple sites on a 25-acre property on the south end of Kalispell.
Emphasizing that the gures were preliminary estimates, the planners said the costs could vary widely based on how the community wants to tackle its overcrowded elementary classrooms and aging facilities.
One option that appears popular among the district’s planning committee is to remodel an existing elementary school
into a so-called early education center for preschool and kindergarten students while also building a new rst-through- fth grade school and middle school. This proposal could cost roughly $45.25 mil- lion and the schools would not reach full capacity until at least 2030, based on a projected 2 percent annual enrollment growth,accordingtotheplanners.
Another popular proposal is build- ing a new elementary school and middle school. This scenario could cost roughly $45.21 million and would most likely reach full capacity by 2020.
A third option that received less input from the planning committee but gar- nered some support was simply build- ing one elementary school, which could cost $24.68 million and would reach full capacity by 2020.
Other possibilities that have been explored include building a new Flathead High School along with a new elementary school and remodeling the existing high school into a middle school. This scenario would cost an estimated $96 million.
KALISPELL SCHOOL TOP OPTIONS
DESCRIPTION
Remodel existing Elem to Pre-K/K, New 1-5, New 6-8 New K-5, New 6-8
New K-5, no new 6-8
New 5-8, Remodel KMS
New 5-8, New K-4, Remodel KMS New K-8
This proposal, which would also include acquiring a 40-acre property somewhere in town, has been all but eliminated by the planning committee as unfeasible.
The committee will convene again Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. in the conference room at Glacier High School.
“Our goal at the next meeting is to reach a consensus of what’s o the table and moving forward with three or four
COST
$45.26 million $45.21 million $24.68 million $38.5 million $50.29 million $41.62 million
SOLUTION REACHES FULL CAPACITY IN
2030+ 2020 2020
2018 2026 2020
Community Rallies Around Out tter Who Lost Everything in Fire Alger Swingley lost home and business in re on Nov. 20
BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
A popular out tter and guide on the
Blackfeet Indian Reservation is trying to get back on his feet after a re destroyed his home and business last month.
Alger Swingley, owner and operator of Blackfeet Out tters, said the Nov. 20 re destroyed everything he owns, but he vowed to be up and running again by next spring. His son, Jeremy Swingley, has set up a GoFundMe account that is currently raising money to help rebuild
the business.
“My home and shop went up in smoke
in less than 10 minutes,” Swingley said. “I never thought I would lose it all in one shot.”
According to Swingley, the electrical re at his home near Babb began some- time after 12 a.m. on Nov. 20. Swingley said his dog’s barking woke him up and, when he went into the living room to determine what was wrong, he saw thick black smoke pouring out of an electrical outlet. Swingley tried to put out of the
re himself, but quickly realized it was spreading out of control. Swingley said ames engulfed the entire house within ve minutes.
Because of the remote location of Swingley’s home, it took nearly 40 min- utes for the nearby volunteer re depart- ment to arrive. By the time they did, the home was a total loss. Along with his home and shop, Swingley lost four vehi- cles, three four-wheelers, three snow- mobiles, a boat, two rafts and all of his saddles, much of which is used for his
out tting business. A lot of the equip- ment was not insured.
Swingley is currently living with a friend, but he plans on moving into one of his out tter’s cabins once water is con- nected to the building.
To make a donation to Swingley, visit www.GoFundMe.com/Swingley. People can also make donations to cover some building materials at Pro Build, 826 NW Bypass, Great Falls, Montana 59404. The account number is 738250.
jfranz@ atheadbeacon.com
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priorities,” Kalispell School District Mark Flatau told the Beacon.
As the options and costs come into focus, Kalispell is now increasingly faced with deciding how it wants to organize its elementary district, which has its largest enrollment in history with 3,018 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, 521 more than 10 years ago.
dtabish@ atheadbeacon.com