Letters to the editor April 22

Invest in education

For 40 years, Kalispell has been my home. My daughter was raised here and attended Kalispell Public Schools. I retired from teaching here, and my husband served as the Flathead County attorney until his retirement. We’ve built strong friendships here and continue to volunteer in the community. I am proud to call this place home.

I hope to remain proud on May 6, when my neighbors are asked to vote on a high school levy — an essential school funding measure.

School administrators, trustees and educators have demonstrated a strong commitment to spending taxpayer money wisely. Since the last levy passed in 2007, our schools have been careful stewards, saving every penny and relying on rainy-day savings to maintain operations. The quality of education remains high partly because of that thoughtful stewardship by administrators who are some of the lowest paid in Montana AA districts.

Despite challenges, Kalispell Public Schools  remain a beacon of excellence. Our speech and debate teams, Team USA, FFA, model Vo-Ag Center, internship and work based-learning programs, athletic teams, CTE classes and International Baccalaureate program are a  few examples of what our students can achieve with the right support. I am proud of these programs, and of the students who shine in them.

Our rainy-day fund has dwindled but my concern grows — not just for our students, but for the future of Kalispell. When we fail to invest in our children’s education, we fail to develop their full potential. We fail to develop Kalispell’s future, as well.

We risk losing valuable resources: The future welder who fixes a fence, the nurse who cares for you in the hospital, the farmer who must compete in a changing world.

Please join me in voting yes by May 6 for our students, for our schools and for the future of Kalispell.

— Sue Corrigan, Kalispell

Administrators pay

The newspaper has many articles about what disasters will follow if the almost $3 million levy does not pass. Teachers will lose jobs, programs will be canceled, our kids' education will suffer, etc.

 Why is there no mention of the number of administrators to be cut? Wouldn’t less staff equal fewer administrators needed?

Are they protecting their own jobs? How many administrators' pay would it take to equal 20 teachers' pay?

— Brent Mitchell, Kalispell

Don’t delay Deer Park bond

I urge eligible voters to strongly consider voting yes on the Deer Park school bond on May 6. Recent discussions have illuminated the critical need for this investment and corrected misconceptions about the school.

While the $4 million bond seems lofty, a closer look reveals a strategic and phased approach to address urgent needs. This isn’t about extravagant expansion; it’s about providing what is necessary. The 1960s Quonset hut shows its age, with corroding pipes, electrical problems, and structural concerns. The front offices, originally the teacher’s home, require an expensive repair and maintenance budget.

Let’s be clear: This bond is not about increasing capacity or a technologically advanced space; it’s about creating proper, functional classrooms and administrative spaces. Furthermore, Deer Park School is not attempting to accommodate an influx of out-of-district students. In-district students always have priority, but the limited admittance of out-of-district students helps lower the cost for in-district taxpayers. Operating on a remarkably lean budget, Deer Park School consistently receives less taxpayer levy funding than just about any other district in Flathead County.

The reality is stark: a previous bond request failed, and now, these costs have doubled. Delaying this investment further is not fiscally responsible; it’s a “pay me now, or pay me significantly more later” scenario, potentially even jeopardizing the very existence of the school through forced consolidation. This will inevitably increase taxes anyway if forced into another district. The long-term costs of inaction will far outweigh the investment we make today.

I implore all Deer Park School voters to attend the community meeting on Thursday, April 24, to hear the facts firsthand. Let’s move beyond misconceptions and make an informed decision May 6.

— Jen Motes, Columbia Falls