Inter Lake readers weigh in on Somers school bond

Support bond and invest in our children

I recently attended one of the open houses that Somers Middle School hosted for the public. The tour highlighted the school’s needs regarding the issued bond. It was also stressed that anyone with questions or interest in a tour could call the school or stop by between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Lakeside/Somers area is growing just as much as other parts of our valley. Maintenance needs, capacity limitations, and student/staff safety are current issues for the middle school. Currently, the school struggles financially to maintain its facility; therefore no surplus funds are available to improve the facility, accommodate growth, and expand programing. In addition, the level of asbestos throughout the original building restricts the school’s ability to remodel.

The last successful Somers Middle Scool bond was passed in 1993. It’s time to invest in, and help meet the needs of, our 21st century children and their opportunities. I do not support property taxes as the sole source of funding these needs; however, that is the way our current system works. Therefore, I will choose to improve the quality of education for children by the only available option: by voting yes now!

There is a trend in the valley of valuing public education and taking a strong interest in students in our schools. Bonds much larger than Somers Middle School’s have passed in Bigfork, Whitefish and Kalispell. I’m pleased with this movement and hope the district’s taxpayers and voters will support the bond and not be left behind, possibly leaving our local children behind as well. —Annie Aiken, Kalispell

District planned for growth in selecting option

Lakeside-Somers School District 29 voters, please consider the following regarding the building bond:

The School Building Committee, comprised of both school and community members, looked into retrofitting the aging building. The pros and cons were discussed over a three-month period. Many folks on the committee initially wanted to retrofit everything but — due to the condition of the existing building, needs and costs associated with the new facility, and disruption to the current learning environment — it was determined that a combination of retro fitting the newer part of the existing building along with adding a new wing and gymnasium was the ideal solution considering cost and needs.

Some have said this building bond is too costly. The bond, including soft costs (fees, furniture/fixtures/equipment, and contingency), is approximately $277 per square foot. This cost is between two other recent school building projects — Whitefish at approximately $315 per square foot and Kalispell at $262 per square foot.

And, yes, the new building does take growth and possible higher future enrollments into consideration. Currently the elementary school is close to capacity and may need to move fifth-grade students to the middle school. The new building would allow for this. Also, there is a 176-plot neighborhood being planned in Somers. This too will increase the enrollment of the district and require more space.

Two final thoughts to consider: Good school facilities are part of the infrastructure of a healthy community, similar to QRUs and fire departments. It’s where we get some of our strength and economic vitality. I think well-planned school facilities are a good investment that help support increased property values (not to mention the obvious benefits to our young students).

A community forum is planned for Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Middle School. —Courtney Shaeffer, Lakeside

Plan for school to account of cost, students and infrastructure

Concerning Larry Doeden’s letter printed on Oct 10:

First, I would like to thank Mr. Doeden for taking time to come to the school, listen to our concerns and see for himself the condition of Somers Middle School. Mr. Doeden states he has experience in renovations. Anyone having this experience realizes the condition of a building on the outside does not tell the whole story. I find it interesting that Mr. Doeden can come to the middle school, spend a short time and declare the school to be “structurally sound.”

A committee of staff, community members, contractors spent many months exploring different options. Several options were to keep the present structure while meeting the needs of our community, staff and students. We faced problems with infrastructure issues: lack of electrical supply for current technology demands, plumbing issues, narrow hallways, lack of storage, lack of space, not to mention poor energy efficiency. As we considered the options for restoring this building it became painfully evident that all were cost prohibitive.

One major issue Mr. Doeden failed to mention was that the renovation of the building would be very disruptive to our students’ learning environment. Complete renovation would take longer because of the presence of asbestos and the need for isolation during its removal.

Estimates of a new building, accommodating the same number of students as the current plan, was considerably more costly. The committee felt that it was important to save as much of the current building as was economically viable, hence the plan put forth to our voters.

Voters have been asked to renovate this school in the past. Voters said no. There seems to be a constituent of voters that say no to any plan offered, but it’s time to say yes. —Doug Brown, Kalispell, head of maintenance for Somers Middle School.

Lakeside Community Club remains neutral on vote

Unfortunately, the Lakeside Community Club needs to squash untruthful rumors that they do not support the upcoming Somers-Lakeside School District bond issue. Due to the thoughtless and unauthorized actions of two to three club members at its meeting on Oct. 11, this rumor is now circulating.

The Lakeside Community Club does not ever support either “yes” or “no” votes for any election but does provide an informational venue. We are a non-profit whose purpose is to raise funds for other non-profit organizations in the Lakeside community and our valley.

Because of this harmful rumor, the Lakeside Community Club Board of Directors would like to extend its deepest apologies to the Somers-Lakeside School District and to the members of the Lakeside Community Club.

The Board of Directors would also like to encourage any voters who have questions regarding the school’s bond request to contact the Somers-Lakeside School District’s Superintendent, Joe Price, or any school board member.

The school is also hosting a community forum regarding the Somers Middle School bond proposal. It will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the Somers Middle School beginning at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. —Sally Holand, Diane Jenks, Sue Birky and Kathryn Mercord, board of directors of Lakeside Community Club

Here are the issues being faced by current middle school

I am writing today to share the needs and deficiencies that will be addressed with successful passage of the Somers Middle School bond.

Building infrastructure:

—Asbestos removal

—Overloaded and outdated electrical system

—Inadequate heating and venting

—Old and decaying windows, water pipes, and drain lines

Gym/Multi-Purpose/Fitness Area:

—Undersized carpeted gym w/ inadequate seating and storage.

Science Area with Lab:

—Undersized

—Lacking safety- compliance for chemicals and materials storage; electrical, gas, and water; and air circulation

“Arts” Areas/Performance Stage:

—Band room lacks storage and sound insulation, disrupting nearby classrooms

—Stage functionally too small with poor acoustic and lighting qualities.

—Art room has inadequate space for storage and use (art, sewing, pottery, screen printing.)

“Shop”/Technical Education Area:

—Small and crowded space is dangerous for power tools

—Insufficient dust-collection, heating, wiring and fire suppression systems

—Limited storage for lumber inventory, tools, projects, and flammable materials

—Outdated tools

Entrance/Office:

—Lack of security

—No visibility of front entrance

—Outdated phone system

Small Kitchen & Dining Area:

—Poor lighting and crowded traffic flow and seating

—Cramped workspaces and storage areas that are difficult to organize, clean, and maintain.

—Food storage is located inefficiently.

—Not up to industry and County Health standards.

—Not desirable for community use.

Classroom space:

—Moving 5th grade up to Somers will open three needed classrooms in Lakeside.

—Proposed Steamboat Landing Subdivision plans for 176 lots.

Commons Area/Extended Learning Spaces:

—No common area where large groups can have lunch, community groups can meet.

—No small group learning spaces.

The time to act is now. After declining overtures to join District 5, the Somers/Lakeside community’s’ next step is to upgrade the middle school to a facility that will better serve its present and future students.

Please vote yes to the Somers Middle School bond. —Bill Bosslet, Kalispell, Building Committee Member and District Employee

Middle School needs to be replaced

To the West Shore community — do you include our local schools in your definition of a community? If you do, then I tell you that it is time to pass a bond for our middle school.

Somers Middle School is desperately in need of being replaced. First built in 1953, it has served its purpose. Now the physical structure hinders the education of our children. When it rains buckets come out to catch the leaks. When essential systems fail it costs several times more than it should to fix them because asbestos abatement is needed each time. Antiquated wiring does not support the way teachers teach today. The shop limits the number students because of its size. The gym can’t hold performances and sporting events well. There is no room for appropriate science learning due to the lack of lab facilities. The lunch room and kitchen can only serve two grades. And community events, who among us wants to host an event in a building riddled with asbestos, with water, sewer and electrical systems that could all fail at any moment.

The new school will address these problems and more. The new plans will demolish all the existing areas built prior to 1993. The 1993 addition will be able to be retro-fitted but the rest of it will need to go. We tried to save parts of it but doing so was economically and structurally unwise. The new plans celebrate the best aspects of who we are and will say to all who enter that we value our children.

It is time to pass this bond. It is time to say that our children matter. It is time to affirm that schools are central to who we are as a community. It is time. Thank you. —Andrew Wendle, Somers