Bigfork levies pass

By MIKE RICHESON

Bigfork Eagle

Voters on May 8 approved levies for the Bigfork High School and Bigfork Elementary by wide margins.

The $75,586 levy for the elementary school passed by a margin of 200 votes, and the $85,000 high school levy passed by a margin of 213 votes.

Based on current taxable values, the combined school levy costs will be $13.38 per year for a $100,000 home.

The large margin of victories for the levies didn’t surprise superintendent Russ Kinzer, who said the community has a history of supporting the schools.

“This helps us maintain low class sizes and helps provide compensation for staff salary schedules,” Kinzer said.

State revenues account for only 47 percent of the elementary district general fund budget and 50 percent of the high school district budget. The balance must come from local funds, often in the form of levies.

For the elementary and middle school, the extra funds will ensure that class sizes remains small: Grades K-3 will have a maximum of 18 students per class, grades 4-5 will have a maximum of 22 students per class and grades 6-8 will have no more than 24 students per class.

The money will also provide academic programs for students who have not achieved proficiency required by the No Child Left Behind Act.

For the high school, the increased budget will also keep class sizes low - 24 students maximum - and increase staff by one half-time teacher for special freshman transition classes and increase staff pay.

Without the levies, the schools may have been forced to reduce extracurricular activities, which help create more well-rounded students.

“On behalf of the school board, I’d like to extend appreciation to the community,” Kinzer said.

“It’s a positive sign to see the support at the level Bigfork has. We want to continue to earn that trust and support.”