School board approves bond election

By MIKE RICHESON

Bigfork Eagle

On July 2, the Bigfork School district's board of trustees voted to approve a bond election for the high school and the elementary school to upgrade and improve facilities.

During the meeting, trustee Paul Sandry moved that the board approve a 15-year bond election for the high school for $11.1 million dollars, and trustee Scott Reichner moved that the board approve another 15-year bond election for the elementary school for $5.5 million dollars. Both motions passed unanimously.

The board now has until August 8 to submit the election plan to the Secretary of State, which will be followed by mail ballots sent out by Sept. 19. The election will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 9.

Exact costs to the taxpayer for both bonds are still being processed by DA Davidson & Co., but the total annual tax will run approximately $130 per $100,000 of residential property value.

Total annual tax for both bonds on a residential property valued at $300,000 would be approximately $390.

"The school board has been diligent with the process to determine what is needed without being excessive," superintendent Russ Kinzer said. "The board has been frugal with general fund levies in the past, and this is the same situation here. We wanted to make sure we were working to overcome deficiencies in the facilities without any frills or fluff."

If the bond passes, construction is scheduled to begin in June 2009. Construction should be complete by August 2010.

Modifications under consideration for the high school include:

? Add six classrooms and a choir room.

? Renovate or add two science laboratories.

? Expand the band room.

? Expansion or renovate boys' and girls' locker rooms.

? Enlarge the foyer and lunch facilities.

? Add a weight-lifting room.

? Add two offices for student and staff support personnel.

? Remove portable buildings.

? Build enlarged library.

The total amount of new square footage for the high school comes to 38,516 feet.

Modifications planned for the elementary/middle school include:

? Add three 5th and 6th grade classrooms.

? Add classroom for Title I program.

? Add classroom for math and 8th-grade science.

? Add two primary grade rooms.

? Add two offices for staff and student support services.

? Expand or add existing choir room facilities.

The total amount of new square footage for the elementary school comes to about 18,000 feet.

The entire campus will also receive a redesign. Drawings by Landmark Landscape Architects in Coeur d'Alene, Ida., show a new entrance to the elementary school along Commerce Street. Instead of passing through the length of the school before encountering the main office, visitors will now enter the building at the main office.

A new approach to the high school is also part of the plan along with improved parking.

"We want to try and create some separation between the schools with the new entrances," Kinzer said.

Discussion about facilities upgrades has been taking place since November 2005, when superintendent Russ Kinzer met with school administrators and faculty. Common complaints were the lack of office space, cramped classrooms, too few classrooms, increasing maintenance fees on the portable buildings and parking issues.

In the high school, some classes have students sitting in the gym bleachers due to lack of space, and students sit in the hallways to eat lunch.

Kinzer said that in spite of the deficiencies, teachers and staff did what they've always done: adapt and make do.

Questions about building a new high school resurfaced, but the school board concluded that another building wasn't feasible. A bond issue for a new high school failed in 1998, and studies showed the costs of running a third building were too high.

Renovating the 50-year old buildings seemed the only feasible route.

Kinzer said that he will be making presentations about the construction project to local groups, and it's now up to the community to decide whether or not to pass the bond.

"The school board's responsibility is curriculum, staffing and facilities," Kinzer said. "They are trying to provide adequate facilities to students - they are doing their job as elected representatives. Now the public gets to say yes or no."