Polson schools request new bond
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News from Polson School District #23
POLSON — The Polson School Board recently voted unanimously to proceed with bond elections for both the Polson High School and Elementary School Districts in May 2022. The bond proposal for the Polson Elementary School District is approximately $32 million, and the proposal for the Polson High School District is approximately $17.7 million.
The Polson community has seen a steady increase in population and PSD is preparing for the impact of that growth. The increase is leading to overcrowded hallways and classrooms in its schools. This growth has stressed PSD’s already aging infrastructure, with the newest school building in the district being over 30 years old.
To prepare for this growth, adequately absorb the increase, and prepare its building for the future, Polson School District worked with teachers, administration, and the school board to develop a plan for the future well-being of its learners. This plan is a comprehensive $49.89 million bond resolution. The goal is direct: to meet the short and long-term needs of the district with renovation and expansion at all schools, to address growth and capacity issues, and to ensure all students are receiving a high-quality education in a safe and secure environment while thoughtfully partnering with the taxpayers and community members we value.
In the last 30 years, PSD has only had one large-scale construction project and that was the construction of the Pirate Sports Complex. The district has recently utilized $4.1 million of one-time federal funds (ESSER) to address heating and ventilation needs across the elementary district. Additionally, PSD listened to its community following the failed bond election in 2019 and scaled back the proposed project’s scope and significantly decreased the tax burden.
Polson School District’s Elementary Bond proposal would provide just over $32 million for all three elementary schools. This bond will allow for the realignment of our elementary schools allowing Cherry Valley to serve the district’s Pre-K through second grade students and Linderman Elementary to serve the district’s third through fifth grade students. Polson Middle School will serve sixth through eighth grade students. The bond will help expand facilities to alleviate overcrowding improve student restroom accessibility. It will also address cafeteria updates, gym expansion, classroom additions, and ultimately the health and safety concerns of each building with updates bringing these buildings up to code.
Additionally, this bond would update Cherry Valley with additional classrooms, a multi-purpose PE and gym practice facility, updated kitchen facilities, and for the first time, a dedicated space for music instruction and performance. There would also be a renovation to the current school to provide a more safe and learning conducive environment for our students.
Linderman Elementary will be updated with additional classrooms, a new library space, updated kitchen facilities, and a new music room. The bond will also renovate Linderman’s current learning environments to improve the student experience.
The fifth grade realignment will provide adequate classroom spaces for special education, science, technology, engineering, art, and math programs.
Finally, all three elementary schools will receive updated school entrances to enhance student safety and security.
The High School district will be running a separate bond for $17.7 million. The main focus of this proposal is to remove outside modular buildings that have become worn, unsafe, and unhealthy to use, with a sharp focus on student safety.
It would also allow expansion of the high school with a new set of classrooms to handle the increase of students, improving the safety and security for all high school students. These classroom additions would add space for new computer science and robotics programs, a Native American culture center that would house an experiential learning program, updated special education classrooms, improvements to career and technical education facilities, and a new welding lab.
Science labs would be updated to current standards to improve the learning environment for all students. In addition, the entryway to the high school would undergo a renovation to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Finally, all schools would receive an update in health and safety measures, including the addition of security cameras and safety systems. The 2022 PSD bond proposal plan impacts all students in Polson School District and creates a better and more successful educational future by providing adequate space, safety, security measures, and academic and extracurricular opportunities.
Passage of both bond proposals would result in a 25-year loan term. Taxpayers would be affected by the assessed value of their homes per 100 thousand dollars. For example, a $100,000 home would owe $8.86 per month or $106.35 per year, and a $200,000 home would owe $17.72 per month or $212.70 per year.
Voters will have the opportunity to vote on the two available propositions. Ballots for the bond election will be mailed on April 13 and are due back by May 3. For more information, visit www.polson.k12.mt.us.
