Kalispell Public Schools is moving ahead in its search for a piece of property to relocate its transportation department offices and district-owned buses onto one site.

The offices are currently located at 514 E. Washington St. The district’s buses are kept on city-owned property located south of Legends Stadium, which is part of a shop complex that serves several city departments. The district currently owns 28 buses and contracts out remaining routes to area bus companies.

Both the city and the district are trying to plan ahead in anticipation of future growth and development in Kalispell.

According to Kalispell Public Schools Superintendent Micah Hill, the district was asked to vacate the city-owned space within a couple of years. In the meantime, the district is levying money in the transportation fund to buy property. Interlocal funds also would be used.

On Feb. 9, the school board approved a resolution to put the question of land acquisition on the ballot for the May school election.

The district is still in the process of searching for properties. The challenge is to find about 5 to 7 acres within the city boundaries that is for sale. District Director of Business Services and Operations Gwyn Andersen said trustees will be provided with more information on what options are available before April 2 when ballots are certified. If trustees haven’t reached a decision on a property by that date, they may cancel the request since a land acquisition election may be held at any time. Andersen said it made sense to put it on the May ballots when trustee and levy elections are held.

“We can do another election later, but we’re talking about another $30,000 to run an election and typically these are approved. We’re not asking for money. We’re asking for the ability to purchase property,” Andersen said.

THE TRANSPORTATION department is one part of a larger discussion on other district facilities and whether or not some departments could be located at one site. Currently, the district has a real estate agent researching the market values of some facilities.

During a January board meeting, Hill said the district was approached about selling the East Washington Street building, which also houses the district print shop and nonprofit HEART Locker, and the Central Administration Office building located at 233 First Ave. E. The district leases out the two floors of the First Avenue East building to the Kalispell ImagineIF library. This “no-cost” 40-year lease expires in 2023, according to a long-range facility plan the district completed in 2012-13.

“We would not do anything without engaging the county library,” Hill assured school board members.

The district also is researching the market value of its maintenance shop located on Meridian Court. In addition, a district-owned building on Birch Grove Road that is currently leased out as a community center is up for review. The Birch Grove Community Center has submitted a letter to the district asking to continue the lease to use the facility.

“So there’s a lot of moving parts,” Hill said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 406-758-4431 or by email at [email protected]