Part 2: This is the fourth article in a series profiling schools that would be affected by a Kalispell Public Schools elementary bond request. Ballots are due Oct. 4.

Built in 1955, Peterson Elementary School in Kalispell is not alone in its need to address deferred maintenance in addition to overcrowding.

On Sept. 13, Peterson Principal Rick Anfenson waited in the main office to give a tour of the building.

When asked what a primary need is, he’s quick to answer:

“Our roof is leaking.”

An office employee pointed to a water stain in the ceiling tiles above waiting chairs. The stain became obvious after it rained the previous day.

In addition to the roof, new doors are high up on the list for security and energy efficiency reasons. Anfenson showed the front door as one example where the sun — and outside air — seeped through a gap.

“Some [doors] are worse than others,” Anfenson said.

Repairs have been made along the way, but there comes a time when things need to be replaced. Now is that time, according to Kalispell Public Schools, which is requesting $25,282,200 elementary district bond approval.

In addition to deferred maintenance, a regulation-sized gym would be built and the existing gym turned into flexible labs and breakout spaces at Peterson.

With an enrollment of 429 students, Peterson is 15 students over capacity. Many students can’t attend their neighborhood schools in Kalispell.

“There’s a lot of Peterson kids who can’t get in here right now. We’re pretty full,” Anfenson said.

If the bond request passes, additional space would be added at each school and a new elementary school would be built at the south edge of town.

The next step will be to redraw enrollment zones for elementary schools and return students to their neighborhood schools.

“It will be interesting,” Anfenson said about the redistricting process. “That will be a community effort along with the district to set up those boundaries. Really we haven’t done much on elementary boundaries since Edgerton was built [in 1987].”

When overcrowding at the kindergarten- through second-grade level became an unavoidable districtwide issue years ago, super-sized classrooms taught by two teachers were started in the 2012-13 school year as a short-term solution.

Currently, Peterson has a super kindergarten classroom with about 38 students. Compared to other super classes around the district, Peterson has a fairly large classroom to house the children.

“The push out from that is where do you put all their stuff?” Anfenson said, waving his hand over the hallway where student gear is stored. “That’s their summer clothes. During the winter all their coats and boots takes up a lot more space.”

Another short-term solution to overcrowding was building additions to Peterson and Edgerton elementary schools. Additions containing four classrooms each were built and opened at the two schools for the 2013-14 school year, filling up quickly.

Peterson also received a multipurpose room that is heavily used. Anfenson said the addition was a necessity.

“One, it kept Peterson kids at Peterson. Kalispell has that neighborhood school concept,” Anfenson said. “We could not serve lunch in our lunchroom any more with that many students coming to our school and the multipurpose room we use for lunch, activities and assemblies.”

As with the district’s other elementary schools, available spaces have been converted more than once for learning. One example is the stage that first became a music room and is now a computer lab.

“Then with the remodel our staff lounge became the music room and the kitchen became the staff lounge, so we’ve done some shuffling here,” Anfenson said. “We’ve used every nook and cranny here.”

In addition to Peterson, Edgerton, Elrod, Hedges and Russell elementary schools are slated for renovation if the bond issue is approved. Deferred maintenance only would be completed at Kalispell Middle School. A new elementary school would be built on Airport Road, and as a result, redistricting will occur.

If the $25.3 million elementary bond request is approved, owners of homes with assessed values of $200,000 could anticipate property taxes increasing by $116.82 annually over 20 years.

Only residents living in the Kalispell Public Schools elementary district (not people who live in rural outlying districts) may vote on the elementary district bond issue.

Residents of the elementary district also will vote on a $28.8 million high school district bond issue. That would add another $58.46 in annual taxes on a $200,000 home.

If both bond issues pass, elementary residents could see a total property tax increase of $175.28.

Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.