New school campus planned

$15 million project proposed at north edge of Kalispell

Plans are not yet final, but a new Stillwater Christian School could open as early as fall 2008.

The campus has been located at the old county nursing home site south of Kalispell since 1992.

The new campus will be at the corner of West Reserve Drive and Whitefish Stage Road, on 20 acres donated by Ray Thompson, Semitool's chief executive officer.

The new school could cost upwards of $15 million, Superintendent Daniel Makowski said Thursday at the school's annual celebration and fundraising banquet, "For Such a Time as This."

Two-thirds of that money already is accounted for. The school hopes to get about $4 million for its current property and has received $6 million in donations and pledges.

Money made from ticket sales and pledges at the banquet will also go toward the campus fundraising campaign.

Keynote speaker and retired Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North contributed $1,000.

"We're not looking to build a monument," Makowski said. "We're looking to build a building that will further enhance the legacy of Stillwater Christian School."

The new campus won't put the school in debt or raise tuition for families, he said. It will accommodate Stillwater's growing student population, which is expected to rise even more when the school moves to a "prime location in the valley." The new building will hold more than 600 students - double the school's current enrollment.

Plans are not yet final, but preliminary designs include the following:

. One building with separate wings or areas for elementary, middle-school and high-school students. The elementary wing would include space for individual teachers as well as a shared space for classroom collaboration.

The middle-school section would likewise feature a common area and space for student expression, including whiteboards or pin/staple-friendly walls. Teachers would have their own collaboration space.

High-school spaces may include class or lecture rooms, conference-style seminar rooms and individual learning areas.

. A large presentation room for chapel, presentations, productions or community events would be adjacent to the high-school area. It would seat up to 300 people.

. A commons area to serve as the school's central hub and a gathering place for students and families. Lunch would be served in the space, which will be easily accessible from the elementary, middle-school and high-school areas.

. A library with various types of media to complement printed materials. The library would be available for students or the community.

. A music conservatory, which would be available to the community for private lessons and home-school use.

. An art barn to accommodate the school's growing visual-art program. Initial designs call for a "large, open, almost warehouse-like space" with moveable furniture, wet and dry project areas and capacity for art classes at every grade level. The barn probably would be available for community use.

. A gymnasium with room for two basketball courts side by side or one large tournament court. A third court could be separated by a moveable hard wall. Total seating could be as high as 1,200, and a platform at one end would make the space usable for graduation and other events.

. A home-school learning space for Connections in Education. The area would feature classroom and conference space, a curriculum resource library and access to widely used parts of the school, including the science rooms, music conservatory, art barn and library.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.