Consolidation plans begin to take shape

The Libby School Board continues to

face tough decisions as it sorts out consolidating schools and

dealing with a projected budget shortfall.

The district plans to close Asa Wood at

the end of this school year as a cost-saving measure. Libby Middle

School will house kindergarten through sixth grade. Seventh through

12th graders will attend Libby High School.

Monday the board took a first look at

preliminary plans as it begins consolidating its three schools into

two. Administrators and staff have already finished tours of the

middle and high school to map out how the schools will look.

“There really is some great ideas for

how we can look out for safety of the kids and provide a quality

education with the staff,” Superintendent Kirby Maki told the

board.

The plan for the middle school puts

kindergarten students in the brown wing and first graders in the

adjacent orange wing. Second and third grades will be located in

the blue wing. While fourth and fifth grades will be in the yellow

wing. Sixth grade and the computer lab will be located in the green

wing.

Playground equipment for younger

students will likely be installed near the gym.

At the high school, seventh graders

would be located in a separate pod. A location for a seventh and

eighth grade commons area is still being determined. Options

include constructing an area or converting the library. The commons

area would be used to serve students lunch.

High school principal Rik Rewerts said

the most feasible option is to convert the library, which already

has plumbing and cabinets for a kitchen area. The library is also

set apart from the other areas of the building.

“If the commons area is in the middle

of everything it really disrupts (other) classes during meals,” he

said.

Also to be determined a location for

the drop off/pickup area for seventh and eighth graders. One idea

is to expand the area on the east side of the high school off

Education Way.

The estimated cost of renovations to

the two buildings is about $800,000. This would come from the

district’s building fund.

Maki said while the changes are costly

the hope is that the modifications will be a positive for students.

Both buildings could handle the increase in students without

construction, but that wouldn’t be the best option, he noted.

“We want to make it where it’s good for

the kids,” he said.

The school board was set to further

discuss consolidation options at a special meeting Thursday.

While the Asa Wood building will no

longer house students next year, the district plans to retain the

building. The school grounds are often used as a park.

“Asa Wood is still our property and a

community center,” Maki noted.

Relocating students, however, is

expected to help save the district money.

Maki presented updated operating

figures for Asa Wood school. The utility savings — fuel oil,

electricity, garbage and the like — is about $105,000. Personnel

savings, including eliminating the district’s special services

supervisor position, is expected to save another $270,000.

“If we don’t close the elementary

school we would lose four and a half or more positions over and

above those who have retired,” Maki said.

The district’s goal by consolidating

schools is to keep the student to teacher ratio small.

“At this time we probably have enough

retirements and resignations,” Maki said. “I hope we don’t have to

let anybody go.”