Panel wants to merge bond votes

Local elementary, high school projects could total $90 million

A facilities planning committee will recommend in June that Kalispell Public Schools trustees consider asking voters to approve both high school and elementary bond requests this fall.

High school facility projects are projected to cost $28.5 million while the elementary proposal is projected to cost $62.3 million.

The committee previously supported an elementary district bond issue this fall, but the timing of high school district proposals was up in the air until a facility planning meeting Wednesday at the H.E. Robinson Vocational Agricultural Education Center.

About 30 people in attendance supported going for both elementary and high school bond issues at the same time rather than spacing them out.

This made sense to Flathead High School Principal Peter Fusaro, who said high school facilities have been put on the back burner too long when it comes to funding, so energy should go into one campaign.

“To me it makes sense. Here are the needs in the district. Here’s what the picture looks like and then put it out in front of voters,” Fusaro said, noting that’s what other cities such as Missoula have done. “Let the community decide.”

Flathead Activities Director Bryce Wilson said putting both issues on the ballot may bring out more voters.

The facilities committee agreed to recommend to the board a high school district project proposal that would affect Flathead, Glacier and Linderman schools, the vo-ag center, Legends Stadium and parking at Flathead.

All buildings where learning takes place would receive upgrades for 21st century learning.

Proposals include:

n At Flathead, the small gym would be replaced and a new second-story of classrooms added along with demolition of the half-floors and a minimally used lecture hall. Safety improvements such as fire sprinklers also would be added.

n At Glacier, only deferred maintenance projects would be covered.

n Linderman Education Center, which houses alternative high school programs, would get a new info-commons, new science/maker lab and a refurbished gym.

n Vo-ag center project highlights include a new science lab, new offices, a new info-commons, greenhouse, adding a veterinary science lab, expanding the shop and moving the welding program to the vo-ag center.

n Adding a parking lot near Flathead and making improvements to Legends Stadium were suggested by planners at an earlier meeting to show committee members what an all-encompassing proposal of high school facilities would look like.

Planners suggested a parking lot south of the wood shop where four houses currently are located. It would require buying up the four lots to provide 110 parking spots. Trustee Jack Fallon then suggested a parking lot may be better located in an area between Elrod Elementary (where parking also has been an issue) and the high school.

Combined, the high school facility projects are projected to cost $28.5 million.

The $62 million elementary proposal, which the committee already voted to recommend to the board, includes building new elementary school and middle school in south Kalispell and a new elementary school to the north in addition to remodeling five existing elementary buildings.

Building an additional middle school would be dependent on Somers-Lakeside School District sending its sixth- through eighth-graders to Kalispell Public Schools.

Currently the district is surveying community members about a potential interlocal agreement to send middle-schoolers to a new Kalispell school.

Bonds to fund the school projects likely would be paid back over 20 years.

A recommendation will go before the school board at 6 p.m. June 14.

Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.