Voters approve Whitefish High School expansion bonds

Whitefish Voters on Tuesday passed two bonds that will expand Whitefish High School and its adjacent athletic complex to meet the demands of growing enrollment.  

The $26.5 million academic expansion bond passed by 56.5% with 2,876 votes for and 2,200 votes against.  

The $6.1 million athletic expansion bond passed by a closer margin of 51.8% with 2,635 votes for and 2,437 votes against. 

Out of 10,798 registered voters, 5,091 ballots were cast for a voter turnout of 47%. 

Last October, Whitefish voters rejected a combined $33.7 million bond that would have funded both the high school expansion and a more robust athletic facility project all together. That bond failed by a margin of 152 votes. 

The academic expansion will add classrooms and lab spaces and new multi-purpose facilities for core classes, science, technology, arts and math programs.  

It will allow for growth in trade education such as culinary arts, hospitality and tourism, business and agriculture. Safety and security improvements will be made by reducing student travel to auxiliary buildings and adding secure entrances. The academic bond will also enable renovations to Whitefish Independent High School.  

The athletic complex expansion will allow the district to build a new 10-lane track and football field with 1,500-seat grandstands with improved accessibility, admission and concession facilities, restrooms and parking spaces. The new athletic facilities will be owned by the district and will eliminate the current limited-use rental agreements. 

For a homeowner with an assessed value of $300,000, there will be an annual cost of $42.82 for the academic bond and $12.80 for the athletic bond. 

The current high school is designed for approximately 600 students and is already over capacity with a current enrollment of 630 students, according to the district. The expansions are designed to accommodate further anticipated growth over the next 15-20 years.  

With the projected annual growth rate of 2%, the district anticipates 723 students at the high school in 10 years. The district anticipates 2% growth district-wide as well.