Kila students move into new rooms
<p><strong>Jenna Wold</strong> teaches music in one of two new classrooms at Kila School on Friday, January 8. The room was part of 2400 square feet expansion that created a new classroom and the allowed the music classes to be moved from the basement into this new space. The project also added a set of bathrooms to this section of the school. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Kila School can cross off another project in its master plan created in 2009.
The school recently completed construction of a music room and eighth-grade classroom in the middle school wing, adding about 2,400 square feet. Two staff restrooms also were built. Construction began in mid-August, was finished in November and students moved in after winter break, according to Kila Principal Jason Christy.
The cost of the project was $364,507, paid through available school district funds.
“We used a little bit of everything from the general funds, rural schools fund, Title 1 fund. We had to scrape from everywhere. We also had a $2,000 donation from Roof Works in Kalispell,” Christy said.
The previous music room in the basement will return to its original use as storage.
“Basically the main reason [the classrooms were built] was to get our music class out of the basement,” Christy said.
The classroom that eighth-graders vacated now will be used for small group instruction, after-school programs and electives.
In 2010, school board members had adopted a “one classroom at a time” approach to adding onto the school when enrollment was growing and after voters rejected building reserve levies in 2007 and 2011 and a bond request in 2009.
The last addition at the school was opened in 2011 and added 1,250 square feet. With a history of failed levy requests, available school funds were used — including one-time-only federal stimulus money — rather than going to voters.
Christy said he doesn’t foresee the district requesting a levy in the immediate future unless enrollment increases. In the past 10 years, Kila School reached its highest enrollment in 2014 with 182 students. Enrollment decreased to 158 students this year.
“If enrollment stays where it is, we’re pretty comfortable,” Christy said.
Also in the 2009 master plan are projects such as a science lab, a new library and a new kitchen.
Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.