Bond ballots to be mailed today

Voters in Kalispell Public Schools elementary district have until Sept. 18 to decide a $3.35 million bond request.

A total of 13,053 ballots will be mailed to registered voters today.

Ballots are due back by 8 p.m. Sept. 18.

Self-addressed envelopes are included with ballots.

Voters may mail ballots or deliver them to the Central Administration Office upstairs in the Flathead County Library at 233 First Ave. E., Kalispell.

The school district is asking for money to alleviate overcrowding by building a multi-purpose room and four classrooms at Peterson Elementary and four classrooms at Edgerton Elementary School.

Part of the money also would build a new central kitchen at Kalispell Middle School.

If the bond request is approved, owners of a home valued at $100,000 would see taxes increase by $9.48 annually. Owners of a home valued at $200,000 would have an annual tax increase of $18.95.

For more information about the election, call 751-3400.

Voters have a few more opportunities to see how bond money would benefit students.

Tours of Edgerton and Peterson are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 4. Both schools are experiencing overcrowding in kindergarten through second grade.

Visitors need to schedule times to visit by calling Peterson at 751-3737 or Edgerton at 751-4010.

Food Services Director Jennifer Montague will lead a tour of the current central kitchen at Flathead High School and explain why the building — built in 1935 — is in need of an overhaul.

The kitchen tour is scheduled from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Sept. 5. Visitors should meet in the high school food court. For more information, call 751-3432.

The election is open only to those who live in the Kalispell elementary district — not people who live in other districts outside Kalispell that feed into Kalispell high schools.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.