Old school discussion continues Tuesday

The Libby School Board will be continuing to offer discussion on the old high school building during their Tuesday, July 20, meeting at 7 p.m.

A local group interested in renovating the old Libby High School building offered to purchase the building from the school district at a regular board meeting on June 22.

At that meeting, Vicki Munson of the Friends of Historic Libby High School told the board that a group of private investors had committed $100,000 to purchase the old high school building.

Covenants could be inserted into the purchase agreement by the district, Munson said, to ensure the building is used in a manner compatible with the trustees¹ wishes.

Gary Huntsberger, who proposed demolishing the building, said that the struggling Libby economy would not be able to support a project like the proposed renovation.

The trustees passed a resolution allowing for the disposal of the property and asked for an appraisal of the building to determine the properties worth.

³I think we need to know how much this is worth,² said trustee Kate Huntsberger.

At Tuesday¹s meeting, the board is hoping to hear brokers¹ opinions on the building¹s value. The trustees will continue to discuss placing the option to sell the school on a special ballot, allowing for community input.

³We need to be thoughtful in selling it,² school board chairperson Teri Kelly said. ³We need to think of the community.²

Also on the agenda:

• The board will discuss a motion to have a sports co-op for wrestling and girls¹ cross-country with the Troy School District, allowing Troy students to participate in Libby¹s programs.

• The trustees will have the first reading of a resolution to change the current retirement policy so that a retirement incentive could only be received once.

• Jim Mari, with U-Serve Tennis, will be talking about the progress the group is making with the City of Libby to build tennis courts.

• John Desch from Flathead Electric Co-Op will discuss the possibility of putting in underground power in the Northeast lawn of the Central Administration Building.