School improvements up to the voters
Ballots for the Bigfork High School bond election will be mailed out Friday, asking voters for $14 million to renovate Bigfork High School.
The proposed renovation would address safety issues, lack of classroom space in the high school, and would bring the buildings up to safety and disability codes. The buildings were last renovated in the 1960s.
The school district has sent out informational materials, hosted several open houses and the district has information about the proposed renovation available on their website.
Bigfork School’s Superintendent Matt Jensen also invites voters to contact him and take a tour of the school before returning their ballots on Oct. 9, by 8 p.m.
“I want them to have the facts before they cast their vote,” Jensen said. “Over 80 percent of the project is new classrooms. Once people take a look at the science lab and math rooms, they see the need.”
The last attempt at a similar renovation bond was in 2008. That high school bond failed while a bond to renovate the elementary passed.
One difference this time around, Jensen said, is that this bond was developed with the involvement of the community.
The school board contracted with CTA Architects in January to come up with a concept for potential changes. A 25-person group made of community members, faculty and students spent three day-long workshops going over renovation options in the spring and deciding what would be best for Bigfork. The group established several priorities for the renovation. A key point was the addition of eight new classrooms to the high school, allowing classes now held in the middle school to move back into the high school building. Other priorities include upgrading science labs, expanding the band room, upgrading locker rooms and providing a lunch area.
The renovation plan calls for 24,000 square feet of new construction, which would be located where the school buses currently park, and relocating the parking and the bus barn. It also details renovation work on 46,000 square feet of existing structure.
The reconfiguration of existing space would also create a more defined front entrance, and move the administrative offices next to that for added security, allowing administrators to monitor who is coming in and out of the school.
Not only is the proposed plan better now, Jensen said, the cost per taxpayer has also gone down in the last seven years, thanks to lower interest rates.
The estimated cost to taxpayers over 20 years on a home with an assessed value of $300,000 is about $104 a year or $8.67 a month. Jensen said if anyone would like to find out a rough cost for their home, they can contact the district business manager, Lacey Porrovecchio.
Estimated costs totaled $13.8 million, but the board is asking for $14 million to cover any unforeseen complications that might arise from renovating a 50-year-old building. If the bond fails, the district won’t do renovations and won’t be able to tackle upgrades to the school.
There are about 300 students in the high school.