District lays out next steps for Whitefish High School expansion

Whitefish voters last week passed two bonds that will fund the expansion and remodel of Whitefish High School and build a new on-campus football stadium.   

The $26.5 million academic expansion bond passed with 56.5% of voters in support -- 2,876 votes were cast for and 2,200 votes against.   

The $6.1 million athletic expansion bond passed by a closer margin, with 51.8% support -- 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.  

It is estimated that the property taxes on a home with an assessed value for tax purposes of $600,000 will increase by $85.64 a year for the building expansion. For the athletic complex, the same home will see an increase of $25.61 a year. 

The current high school, built a decade ago, 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.   

FOLLOWING the bond approvals, Whitefish Superintendent Dave Means said the district is excited for the next steps and plans to get started right away. While completion timelines are yet to determined, the Means emphasized that the goal is “to start as soon as possible.” 

The district’s first step is to select an architectural design team to finalize the preliminary concepts outlined in the bond proposals. The district will conduct a request for qualifications and will form a committee to evaluate and interview applicants. 

Step two is to select a general contractor through a similar evaluation process.  

An industry expert will also be selected as an owner’s representative to oversee the district’s best interests throughout the projects, Means said. 

Finally, the district will work to obtain the necessary permits before starting construction. 

“While we don’t have all the details right now, we’ll have more information after selecting firms and getting started on the process,” Means said.  

“There will be project phases as we take into consideration school and athletic schedules, weather and the permitting process.” 

The district worked with architectural firm Cushing Terrell of Missoula for the preliminary design concepts put forward in the bond proposals, but that does not mean they will be selected again.  

“We’ll go through an application and interviewing process and the committee will determine and select the best candidate for each role,” Means said.  

Means thanked voters for supporting the bonds. 

"I want to thank all who voted in the bond election. I also want to thank our WSD Enrollment and Facilities Committee, our WHS Expansion Committee, WSD Trustees, and everyone who worked tirelessly to gather important input from stakeholders and share information about the future of our Whitefish High School facilities," Means said.