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Sophia Aldous
PRIEST RIVER – It looks like the West Bonner County School District Office is moving to the Priest River Junior High after the West Bonner board of trustees voted to do so at a public meeting Monday, Dec. 9.
“If we do this, it’s going to take four to six months to get this accomplished,” trustee Delbert Pound said. “I would like to see us start the process tonight and have Mr. Spacek (Kim Spacek, WBCSD superintendent) work through the issues of moving up there and bring recommendations to the board…but if we don’t make this decision tonight, or the next month or the next month, I just don’t think there’s going to be a lot of people in the community that think we’re saving enough money, especially if we go and ask for another levy.”
Trustees met at the Priest River Elementary Library Monday night to discuss the future of the district in the wake of levy failures earlier this year. The latest levy’s shortfall during the general election on Nov. 5 marked the third time in two years residents have denied supplemental funding to the district, voting down a one-year, $1.13 million levy.
Trustee Kathy Nash said she would like to see Spacek and district office staff compile information on how much it would cost to move the district office and how much money it could potentially save the district. Board Chair Margaret Hall agreed.
“I think we need to maybe figure out how to start looking at the junior high as a capitol funds project and put together those funding mechanisms if we are going to look at potentially using the building in different capacities other than teaching students,” Hall said.
Trustee Paul Turco said he was in support of moving the district office and that the board needed to look at the possibility of renting out the current district office site in downtown Priest River.
“It would be much easier for us to do something with that property, like rent it or sell it, than it would to rent or sell the junior high, in my opinion,” Turco said. “That’s something I think we should consider.”
Trustees unanimously voted to move the district office to the junior high, though exactly where in the building or in the junior high annex has yet to be determined.
As a result of an existing budget strain, trustees voted unanimously in June to close the junior high for the 2024-25 school year and consolidate seventh through 12th grade at Priest River Lamanna High School. Currently, sports practice for middle school students is being held at the junior high, but no classes are happening on site.
Of the approximately 80 people who took the district’s website survey on what they would like to see happen to the Priest River Junior High, Hall said most participants said they want to see the building remain open and not sold to a private owner.
At Monday night’s meeting trustees decided to eliminate dumpsters at the junior high down to one and limit snow plowing to allow for ADA compliance. Operations Director Ryan Carruth will continue to monitor the temperature at its lowest setting at the junior high as another cost saving measure. The board also decided to create two budgets for the 2024-2025 school year, one reflecting district funds without a levy and the other showing the budget with a levy if the district can pass a supplemental levy in May of next year.
“I know I wasn’t supportive of the idea (two budgets) at our last meeting, but I see the sense in it in showing what we can or won’t have,” Vice Chair Ann Yount said. “I think it’s important that we’re honest and open that changes will need to be made if certain things don’t happen.”
The district will hold a finance committee meeting Monday, Dec. 16, 3-5 p.m. at the district office located at 134 Main St. The monthly board of trustees meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 18, 6-8 p.m. at the Priest River Junior/Senior High cafeteria.
To participate in the district’s junior high building survey, go to www.sd83.org/home.
