District looks for answers on Asa Wood

Proposals have been coming in for a needs assessment to guide the Libby School District with decisions concerning the future of Asa Wood.

“Interest is high,” superintendent Kirby Maki said, “and from some good solid firms.”

The Libby School Board first spoke of hiring a consultant at a September work meeting. A professional, they agreed, would be able to objectively analyze how the district should deal with an aging elementary school building.

“Hopefully this firm we hire will give us some direction,” board trustee Lee Disney said. “As volunteers, we don’t have the time to really spend as a board to dive into this and how it needs to be done.”

The district is interested in learning the best and most cost-effective option – remodeling Asa Wood, consolidating schools, constructing a new elementary school or some other alternative not yet introduced.

Maki has kept busy answering questions for firms about the proposal request and the district’s schools. He received four or five proposals last week and expects four or five more over this week from companies he has been in contact with. Ten to 15 additional firms have requested applications, Maki said.

The deadline for proposals is Jan. 6. By Jan. 11, the board expects to have chosen the top candidates for interviews, Maki said. 

Last year the district put in for a $12 million federal appropriation to fund construction of a new elementary school and, instead, received $390,995 for its planning and preparation. Maki put in another $12 million request this year and should know by February if it was granted. He believes that last year’s appropriation is a good sign that the district will at least receive partial funding for construction.

Disney is not convinced like Maki and other trustees that building a new school is warranted. With declining enrollment numbers, he believes that it is more appropriate to consolidate Libby students into the middle school and high school buildings.

Disney does agree, however, that the possibilities will be fleshed out by whichever firm the board hires. 

“I wasn’t in support of just going out and building a new school,” Disney said, “but I am in support of someone doing a needs assessment.”