Schools project lower tax burden

With a sale of some or all school district bonds planned in March, Kalispell Public Schools Superintendent Mark Flatau said the cost to taxpayers is now projected to be lower than initial estimates based on current interest rates.

“The great news is that we have record-low interest rates still holding,” Flatau said during a presentation highlighting the school district’s upcoming construction projects at a Kalispell Chamber of Commerce luncheon Tuesday.

In October 2016, taxpayers approved a $25,282,000 elementary district bond issue and a $28,766,000 high school district bond issue to renovate and remodel school facilities.

If the bonds sell at a lower interest rate than initially projected, owners of a home with an assessed value of $200,000 living in the elementary district may now expect their annual tax bill to increase by $106.99 — nearly $10 less than first proposed.

People living in the high school district who own homes with assessed values of $200,000 can anticipate annual property taxes to increase by $53.44 — about $5 less than initial projections.

With construction work planned on 10 school facilities throughout the district, the priority is the new elementary school located on Airport Road.

The district is set to break ground and begin site work in May, with building construction set to start August in order to open the school doors by August 2018. The new school is expected to cost $15,186,500.

Layouts of the new south elementary and the first blush of what the exterior may look like were on display at the chamber luncheon. The new school will relieve overcrowding at the district’s five existing elementary schools.

Flatau said modern elementary schools have a different look and feel compared to when he and other chamber members were in school, with more large common areas and shared and flexible spaces to accommodate small and large groups.

Grades will be grouped together using a pod concept featuring a centralized, multipurpose area called a “maker space” containing sinks and counter space where students can work on a variety of projects, from art to science.

The process of naming the new school is to be decided at a later date.

The district’s existing five elementary schools will also be renovated with the same idea of shared, flexible spaces for large and small groups. Some schools will have new gyms or commons built with community access in mind. Flatau said security on exterior doors will be upgraded to automatically or remotely be locked or unlocked.

The bulk of the high school district bond issue is budgeted for Flathead High School.

Construction on the high school building is tentatively set to begin in April 2018 following completion of other projects involving building utilities. Construction on Flathead is estimated to be completed by July 2019.

The high school project will entail the demolition of “half floors,” the lecture hall and small gym.

Flatau said he is excited to see the planned expansion of the H.E. Robinson Vocational Agriculture Center which will ramp up hands-on programming such as veterinary science and welding.

Linderman Education Center will also be remodeled to give students a commons area, among other projects.

Legends Stadium is also slated for upgrades, including a synthetic turf field.

The district has decided to seek out architect and engineering firms to manage all but two smaller-scale projects.

The district’s Facilities Department is taking on management of deferred maintenance projects at Glacier High School and Kalispell Middle School, which entails many outside projects such as repairs to parking lots, sidewalks, roofing and a track at the middle school, among other items.

Reporter Hilary Matheson can be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.