West Valley School plans for expansion

West Valley School will host two meetings next week to discuss the district’s expansion plans with the community.

The district is one of the few in the valley that has experienced a steady increase in enrollment over the last several years — including 40 additional students this school year. The number of students at West Valley has grown by 33 percent over the last decade, more than any other district in Flathead County.

While increased enrollment has benefits, including increased state funding, there has been one significant drawback to having additional students. West Valley’s space is far from unlimited, and with about 440 students currently attending, the school has very nearly reached capacity.

School officials and trustees expect enrollment to continue to grow, thanks to the number of relatively affordable homes in the West Valley area. Officials anticipate enrollment will reach 600 in the next five years.

That means the school will have to find places to put those students — and without some sort of expansion, that won’t be possible.

For the last several months, school officials and trustees have worked on a facilities assessment to determine the district’s current and future needs. They have also considered the struggling economy and the burden many taxpayers already bear.

They considered several options to solve their space needs. Bringing in portable classrooms, building on to the current school, building a new school or simply waiting and doing nothing are all plans school officials have discussed.

They have decided that adding on to the existing building is probably the best option at this time. An expansion would create space for classrooms, allow for minor renovations and possibly add a kitchen.

The building was last added on to 10 years ago, when it got more classrooms and a new gymnasium. The school board at that time planned for one more expansion off the south end of the building, Superintendent Todd Fiske told the Inter Lake in February.

That expansion cost $1.9 million, and taxpayers are halfway through repaying it. The district is doing what it can to ease the bond burden and is looking to refinance.

Within the next 10 to 20 years, district officials anticipate needing a second school. The Aspen Group, which owns the Starling development west of Glacier High School, has donated land for a school. That campus likely would be for lower elementary students.

If the second campus becomes reality, the existing building likely would move toward becoming a middle school.

Fiske will discuss the district’s immediate and future needs at community meetings next week. The meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday in the school library.

For further information, call the school at 755-7239.