Kila School is moving ahead with a plans to connect its school and main office buildings and add a secured vestibule at the main entrance to improve campus safety. 

The rural K-6 school recently selected LPW Architecture to provide architecture and engineering services after issuing a request for qualifications. 

The proposed project includes a hallway connecting the school and main office, the ADA-accessible secured vestibule, a classroom/flex space and a set of boys and girls bathrooms — a long-standing need for Kila School. 

“Right now, we have one set of bathrooms for about 120 kids,” Kila Principal and Superintendent Liz English said. 

LPW will partner with Morrison-Maierle on engineering services. English is negotiating a contract with LPW and hopes to bring it to the school board for approval Oct. 14. 

LPW, which is based in Great Falls with offices in Kalispell, has previously worked on other school projects in the valley, including Rankin, Glacier Gateway, Ruder and Muldown elementary schools, Somers Middle School and Flathead High School. 

The school received one other proposal, from A&E + SMA Design. 

The school expects to use reserve funds, interlocal funds and a bond issue to pay for the project. 

“Until we have numbers and costs, we don’t know what our bonding will look like,” English said. 

English said 1996 was the last time a bond issue passed in Kila for $249,000.  

“Since then, we’ve added on, but one room at a time,” English said. “We’re looking to enhance safety by connecting our two buildings with this project.” 

Reporter Hilary Matheson can be reached at 406-758-4431 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.