Libby moves ahead with planning for new school
by Brent Shrum, Kootenai Valley Record
December 2, 2009
The Libby School District is advertising for proposals for the development of a master plan to guide the district in making decisions regarding the possible construction of a new elementary school.
The plan is to "look at all the avenues connected to a new school, and also to look at what the community thinks," said district superintendent Kirby Maki.
Options include repair and remodeling of Asa Wood School, consolidation of elementary and middle school students at the current middle school, and construction of a new elementary building.
Last year, the district put in a request for a $12 million federal appropriation to fund construction of a new school and received about $380,000 for planning. The $12 million request has been submitted again this year, Maki said, and the district should know by February how much, if anything, it will get.
In the meantime, the funds received last year will pay for the development of a master plan and feasibility study, Maki said. One question to be answered by the study will be how much support there may be in the community for a bond issue to finance construction if federal funds aren’t enough to pay for the entire project.
Asa Wood was built in 1953 as a junior high school. Two classroom wings were added on in 1956 and 1960. Concerns include the presence of vermiculite insulation; outdated heating and ventilation, electrical, fire suppression and plumbing systems; the need for secure entrances and exits; operational and maintenance costs; restroom facilities; and problems with the roof. Educational needs include more and larger classrooms with wider hallways; a library/media center; a kitchen and cafeteria; a multipurpose room; and the ability to support current technology.
"Those little kids deserve a building that’s built for them, not seventh- and eighth-grade high school kids," Maki said.
__________________________________
Editor’s Note: See the December 1, 2009 edition of the Kootenai Valley Record for the printed version of this story. The Kootenai Valley Record publishes once a week, on Tuesdays, in Libby, Montana. They are a locally owned community newspaper, located at 403 Mineral Avenue in Libby. For in-county and out-of-county subscription information, call 406-293-2424, or e-mail kvrecord@gmail.com.
|
