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School Levy Now Goes To Voters Boundary County Hopes To Outpace Overcrowding With Building Project

By Kevin Keating KevinKe@spokesman.com

An ambitious $14.7 million plan to build a new high school and renovate four elementaries is headed to Boundary County voters Thursday.

It’s the first major building project and bond levy put to residents in nearly 25 years, said Superintendent John Schwartz.

“This is of prime importance. We’ve had facility needs for a number of years and addressed it on a piecemeal basis,” Schwartz said. “But we’ve only gotten further behind. It’s time we reduce overcrowding and provide enough classroom space.”

Bonners Ferry High School has stuffed nearly 600 students into a school built to hold only 500.

Junior high students are in portable classrooms, and Evergreen Elementary combined grade levels because there aren’t enough classrooms.

“The school board has decided it’s time we do something to keep pace with the growth and we think this levy is doable,” said Julien Bucher, chairman of Boundary County Citizens for Better Schools.

A pre-bond telephone survey indicates that a majority of voters are supporting the bond, the superintendent said.

“From our survey it looks like it’s going to be very close, but I’m optimistic.”

Of the $14.7 million, about $11.7 million would be earmarked for a new high school. It would be built on land the district already owns behind the existing high school.

The new 135,253-square-foot school would hold 800 students and allow the current high school to be used as the junior high.

The remaining bond levy money would pay for additional classrooms, multipurpose rooms and structural repairs at the elementary schools.

“We have just tried to put out factual information and stay away from words like critical and vital,” said Bucher. “If the bond fails we will still get through the year, but our problems won’t go away.”

There hasn’t been organized opposition to the bond levy, but some residents have complained it’s too large a burden on the taxpayers.

“Most realize the need for better facilities but are concerned about the property tax increase,” Schwartz said. “Unfortunately, tapping property owners is the only option we have.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: BOND VOTE Polls will be open Thursday at the high school and four elementaries from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The 20-year bond needs a two-thirds majority to pass. For a home assessed at $75,000 the increased yearly tax is estimated at $133.

This sidebar appeared with the story: BOND VOTE Polls will be open Thursday at the high school and four elementaries from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The 20-year bond needs a two-thirds majority to pass. For a home assessed at $75,000 the increased yearly tax is estimated at $133.