Survey: Most favor upgrade over new building

Opinions on whether the Whitefish School District should renovate Muldown Elementary School or construct a new building remain split, according to results of a survey conducted last month.

Anderson Robbins Research collected data from 255 voters in the Whitefish School District during 10 to 15-minute phone interviews in the first week of February to gauge their opinions on replacing the aging elementary school.

Results show that upgrading and expanding the current Muldown school was the most popular choice of those that had heard about the school’s condition, with 42 percent saying they were in favor of the option. Twenty-one percent said the district should do the minimal amount of work necessary to keep the building functional and just 18 percent said the building should be replaced entirely with a new school.

During the March 14 school board meeting, Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt said it’s important to consider that the health and safety of the students is directly linked to the aging building’s condition.

“We need to spread a sense of urgency,” she said. “We are doing everything we can every single day to ensure the safety and health of our students at Muldown, but know that should the heating system fail for us that could be catastrophic and we may not be able to inhabit the building.”

After several months of evaluating options for significant upgrades needed at the school, the Muldown task force identified three options which range from a bare necessities repair to the construction of a new school. The costs for these improvements ranges from $13 to $21 million, and securing funds for the project will require putting a bond issue before Whitefish voters.

According to the survey results, just over half, 55 percent, of the polled voters had heard about the condition of Muldown, with 35 percent of that group saying they heard it needs to be renovated and repaired.

When asked about voting on a potential bond issue that could be presented in the fall, voters narrowly supported an upgrade over constructing a new school.

Again addressing deferred maintenance and upgrading and expanding the current building was the most popular with 54 percent voting in favor of that option. The district estimates that would cost $16.5 million, which breaks out to roughly an $81 per year cost per homeowner for 20 years.

Fifty-one percent favored building a new school, which the district estimates at a cost of $22 million. That breaks out to $100 annually per homeowner for 20 years.

During the survey, 62 percent voted against only addressing the deferred maintenance on the building. The district estimates that cost at $14.5 million and $65 per year per homeowner for 20 years.

Those most likely to support a new school were under age 45 and those with kids, according to results.

“I think my perspective, based on this data, is you have an electorate that is split,” Chris Anderson said. “This isn’t a slam dunk. There seems to be a significant amount of opposition based on concern for fiscal prudence.”

The primary reasons for opposing a new school were the cost to taxpayers and the potential for fiscal mismanagement. Twenty-two percent of people who rejected constructing a new school said they don’t want to pay more in taxes.

After hearing more information about the state of the school’s deteriorating roof and heating systems, support for a new school rose slightly from 51 to 55 percent, and 58 percent of voters said they’d be more favorable to the option if parts of the current building could be repurposed into a new one.

Trustee Shannon Hanson said it seemed discouraging that there was only a slight increase in backing for a new school after more information was given.

“Frankly I’m concerned that support didn’t really budge,” he said. “Yeah, we got some increase and obviously it came from all the undecideds, which worries me a little bit.”

While the safety and health of the students was far and away the most important factor in people’s decisions, limiting cost to taxpayers and creating a better learning environment for students were the next two priorities, according to the survey.

Muldown currently serves about 670 students in grades K-4. The school was built in 1966, with a major renovation completed in 1992.

Major problems include a failing original heating system, significant structural issues with the roof, lack of insulation and vapor barriers, inadequate drainage in parking lots, a failing irrigation system, and many mechanical systems far past life expectancy.