School levy requests approved

In a light turnout Tuesday, voters approved five out of six levy requests from five schools across the Flathead and elected trustees to two school boards.

The biggest vote of school support came in the Deer Park district, where voters approved the school's request for $32,000 for new math and reading curriculum materials by nearly a 2-to-1 margin.

In one of the valley's strongest district voter turnouts, 13.7 percent, 42 favored the levy and 22 opposed it. The vote will add $56.92 per year to the tax bill on a $100,000 assessed value home, or $113.83 for a $200,000 home.

Deer Park Principal Kim Anderson called the students the winners with Tuesday's results.

"We're just happy that the people came out and stood up for what they need," Anderson said.

Only West Valley's general fund levy request was voted down.

Across the valley, turnout for local district ballot issues ranged from as low as 5.1 percent at Smith Valley up to 18.3 percent at Fair-Mont-Egan. School district clerks speculated that few ballot issues and an 11th-hour levy cancellation by School District 5 trustees in Kalispell may have kept many voters away from the polls.

Kalispell had laid the groundwork for general fund levy requests in both the high school and elementary districts, but canceled the elections a day before balloting.

Trustees, in an effort to recognize community support from last November when voters approved $50.7 million in construction bonds, decided to rely on the legislature's interim school funding, projected savings from teacher retirements and other one-time money instead of a new levy to help whittle away shortfalls of $196,000 at the high school and $25,500 in the elementary.

In other election results Tuesday:

. Cayuse Prairie School's technology levy request passed by an 11-vote margin.

With 72 out of 1,280 registered voters showing up at the polls - for a 5.6 percent turnout, the lowest that Clerk Bonnie Gagnon could remember - 41 voted in favor of the levy and 30 opposed it. The school's $9,000 levy will provide a 25-unit wireless laptop computer lab, adding just $5.60 a year to the tax bill on a $100,000 assessed value home.

Although only two candidates ran for Cayuse Prairie's two trustee openings, the school held elections in order to formally elect newcomer Pam Skonord after she took 55 votes. Incumbent Pete Madison tallied 64.

. Fair-Mont-Egan School tallied a double win on Tuesday, when both its general fund levy and building reserve got the thumbs-up.

Voters approved $47,724 in operation and maintenance money for the general fund, 71 to 49. It will add $63.72 a year to the tax bill for a $100,000 assessed value home, or $127.32 a year on a $200,000 home.

The building reserve also won, 78 to 42. The $10,000 per year for three years will cost $13.32 a year on a $100,000 home or $26.64 a year on a $200,000 home.

. West Valley School's $35,000 general fund levy request failed, 81 to 62.

The levy had been requested to cover roof repairs and building maintenance and supplies, and would have added $18.12 a year on the tax bill for a $100,000 assessed value home, or $36.24 on a $200,000 home.

The two trustee races were in Smith Valley and Whitefish school districts.

. At Smith Valley School, Helen Lyford and Tamah Bybee vied for the vacancy left by outgoing trustee Ron Larsen. Lyford won with 35 votes; Bybee received 7 votes.

. Whitefish schools ran the only other trustee election, as well as an elementary general fund levy election.

Voters approved the $155,463 general fund levy, 315 to 123. It will help cover funding losses due to an enrollment drop, and increases in salaries and utilities. The owner of a $100,000 assessed value home will see an annual tax bill increase of $10.69, while a $200,000 home's taxes will rise by $21.37 a year.

The Whitefish school board will have a new face, as Eric Hosek will replace outgoing board chair Linda Maetzold. He defeated fellow newcomer Kelly Medelman, 327 to 208. Incumbents Dave Fern and Phil Mitchell both retained their positions on the board, with Fern winning 329 votes and Mitchell taking 251.

"In my estimation, It's just a matter of Whitefish always being so supportive of education," Whitefish Superintendent Jerry House said. "I think they know that we're really trying to stretch their dollars, and at same time we're not asking them for anything we don't need."

The district did not put out a high school levy request this spring, but asked only for money to cover elementary costs.

"We did need one in the elementary," House said of the levy. "That's where (students) get their foundation."

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com