Some school bond ballots returned to sender

By ALEX STRCKLAND - Bigfork Eagle

About three percent of the 5,112 ballots sent out for the Bigfork school bond election were returned to the district office because the intended recipients had not updated their addresses with the county election office, officials said.

Bigfork School Superintendent Russ Kinzer said that if anyone who lives in the high school or elementary school district hasnt't recieved their ballot they should call or stop by the district office immediately. Kinzer said his office will re-mail the ballot as soon as they have the correct address.

Ballots must be mailed back and received by the office no later than Oct. 9. They may also be hand-delivered to the district office.

Mail-in ballot issues are determined by a simple majority and there is no minimum number of respondents required.

Kinzer said his office has also receieved calls concerning confusion about how much the bond would cost residents. A formula is available in the district's information booklet, which can be picked up at the district office or online at http://bigfork.k12.mt.us. The cost of the bond is based on a property's worth as denoted in the market value listed on a resident's most recent personal tax statement. It does not reflect the potential sale price of a home.

Kinzer said the Bigfork School Board will host an open house at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3. The open house will commence immediately following a short regular board meeting and board members will be on hand to offer tours and answer questions. The meeting is in the Bigfork High School music room.

There has been widespread support from community organizations around Bigfork for the school bond. The Bigfork Steering Committee voted to pass a resolution in support of the issue.

The resolution reads: "The Bigfork Steering Committee, mindful of the importance of education to our children's future, and convinced of the compelling need to enhance and improve Bigfork's school facilities, energetically supports the passage of the October 2007 Bigfork school bond."

The Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork did not pass an official resolution, but president Paul Mutascio said all the members supported the issue.

"Even though it's a non-partisan issue, we were cautious about getting involved," he said.

Mutascio added that CFBB members were looking into participating in a joint community advertisement supporting the issue in the coming weeks.

"It just comes doen to what we as a community can pull together," he said.

The district is asking for two seperate 15-year bond measures for $11.1 million for the high school and $5.5 million for the elementary school.

The bonds would finance renovation and new construction on both school buildings as well as renovations to improve traffic flow, security and safety.

Slated improvements at the elementary school include new primary grade classrooms, middle school classroom and science rooms and enlarged cafeteria and kitchen areas among others.

High school construction would include a new common area/cafeteria, a weight room, renovated art and computer rooms as well as a new and enlarged library that could be a solution to Bigfork's cramped public library situation as well. Should the measure pass, a joint-use library with the Bigfork branch of the Flathead County Library would become feasible.

If the bonds are approved, construction is scheduled to begin in June 2009 and wrap up the following August.