Schools may seek $685,000

The Daily Inter Lake

Construction projects in the Kalispell school district will wrap up in the next several months, but when crews go home and contractors are paid, administrators still have to find a way to pay for start-up costs and day-to-day expenses in their new and expanded buildings.

District Clerk Todd Watkins presented a preliminary general fund budget for the 2007-08 school year Tuesday night at a special Kalispell school board meeting.

Included in his presentation were projected amounts for tax levies the district intends to present to the public this spring.

The levies represent the second part of a request voters approved in November 2004. In that election, voters approved $50.7 million in school construction bonds to build Glacier High School, renovate Flathead High and expand and renovate Kalispell Junior High School into a middle school.

School officials at the time let the public know that bonds would build the schools but additional operation and maintenance costs would be needed to open and run them.

The levy request to cover operation and maintenance costs at the high schools would be about $634,000. This would increase annual property taxes by about $40 on a home with an assessed market value of $200,000.

At the elementary level, officials are proposing a nearly $51,000 levy. This amount is less certain than at the high school level, largely because of bills proposed in the Montana Legislature. Enacting all-day kindergarten, for example, would increase the elementary district's financial needs, Watkins said.

The elementary district also has an increased financial burden next year. Currently, two-thirds of the junior high's operational costs are paid for out of the high school budget, Watkins said.

Next school year, however, when sixth- through eighth-grade students occupy the building, the entire facility - including its additional 54,000 square feet - must be paid for out of the elementary budget, which is allotted for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The school board may vote on the high-school levy as early as mid-February. The elementary levy decision will likely wait until March.

Although neither district's levy is definite, the high school estimate is less likely to be impacted by the Legislature's actions, Watkins said. The high school district's needs primarily stem from operating and management costs and the price of duplicating activities, such as sports, at Glacier. The latter will cost about $500,000, Watkins said.

Superintendent Darlene Schottle emphasized that not all activities are duplicated at the high schools; some are unique to one or the other.

"I don't want the board to assume this is a dream list," she said. "We haven't just replicated at both schools. We've reduced and streamlined."

Streamlining may occur at the elementary level as well. Even if the levy passes, programs and/or personnel may have to be cut.

"The reality is that something has to give," Watkins said.

Proposed cuts include eliminating the districtwide gifted and talented program and eliminating one full-time nurse position. Other positions may be transferred to the high school district.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.