The Kalispell Public Schools Board of Trustees on Tuesday voted to run a high school district general fund levy election and trustee elections on May 6. 

The school board approved the elections as a routine item to meet upcoming state deadlines. The school board may cancel elections before an April 4 deadline. 

Although an amount of the levy will be set at a later date, the recommendation trustees unanimously approved is for “up to the maximum allowable amount to fully fund the high school district.”  

The district is facing an estimated $2.9 million budget shortfall, which it seeks to address with the levy and/or eliminating positions.  

The district is moving forward with cutting 20.5 high school and 14 elementary positions, though that could change depending on the levy outcome and how many employees take an early retirement incentive or resign. Formal layoff notifications, reassignments and involuntary transfers will be issued in May after school elections. 

Available trustee positions include two three-year terms representing the elementary district and for the high school district, one three-year term representing Kila and Somers-Lakeside. People interested in serving on the school board may obtain and file nomination petitions and oaths of candidacy at the central office, 233 First Ave. E., Kalispell. 

Candidates must be registered voters who live in the district they wish to serve. Elementary trustees vote on both elementary and high school issues. Trustees representing the high school district vote on high school issues only.  

A levy of any type hasn’t passed in the high school district, which includes voters in 13 outlying partner school districts, since 2007. During Tuesday’s meeting, Kalispell Superintendent Matt Jensen referred to the upcoming election as “high stakes.” 

“We’re talking between 20 and 21 [full-time equivalent] positions. We have several times, in front of this board, discussed the process that we followed to have the least negative impact on students and the least negative impact on staff but to be clear, we’re pursuing a track of excellence in teaching and learning we’re really proud of the work we’re doing with building pathways for kids as they graduate. 

 And those are the issues at stake in this election if we go backwards with our staffing and what we’re trying to achieve with all the different angles were taking on. And just for perspective, and as a reminder, we are the lowest funded AA district,” Jensen said. 

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