School asks for bond levy

By NANCY KIMBALL

Helena Flats says enrollment prompts need for expansion

The Daily Inter Lake

Crowded classrooms and the prospect of growth in the area northeast of Kalispell have prompted a call for expansion at Helena Flats School.

At 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, the public is invited to an open house to see why school officials think a $2.3 million, 9,132-square-foot addition and retrofit is a good answer to that enrollment pressure.

The bond-issue request comes after a facility evaluation by Architects Design Group concluded the school needs to expand and revamp.

The study, paid for by the $15,000 levy that voters passed during spring, considered a number of factors.

One of those is a 15 percent enrollment increase since 2000, when the school averaged 200 students. This fall, there are 230.

Of the school's nine classrooms, six are at or near capacity. This puts the school in violation of state accreditation standards that dictate how many students can be in one classroom.

The overcrowding also means congested hallways inside and some potentially unsafe traffic conditions for children and parents outside.

Bathrooms, areas of the roof and the fascia also need repairs, and heating units need to be replaced.

If the bond levy passes, the owner of a $200,000 market-value home would pay an additional $262.41 a year, or $21.87 a month.

State funding would offset local tax on the bond by about 20 percent.

The school projected that rising enrollment could offset the local tax burden by as much as 45 percent through increased state aid.

What the community would get for that money are three new classrooms for sixth, seventh and eighth grades, a 3,200-square-foot cafeteria/multipurpose room, library, music/elective room and home economics/science lab.

A staff work room and conference room also would go into the addition.

Plans call for remodeling the foyer, existing classrooms, computer lab, administration office and restrooms.

Repairs would be slated for the roof, heating system, windows, fascia and fire sprinkler system. There also would be some general site improvements.

The three new classrooms would go on the northwest side of the building, extending from behind the present gym. Traffic flow would be moved to the west parking area.

The design will accommodate future expansion if needed.

It's the first time the school has asked for a construction bond since 1978, when voters approved a $95,000 request.

Since then, tax dollars have been invested in teachers, school supplies and programs. School officials said it is time to put some money toward the building, a focal point not just for school activities, but for 4-H clubs, adult basketball and the Helena Flats Land Use Advisory Committee.

Monday's open house will be followed with a public meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 in the school, to provide as much information as possible before the bond-issue vote in the Nov. 7 general election.

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 10.