The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1948-02-12
Funds Too Low
For Building

a large attendance was present
Monday evening at the Libby Lions
meeting. The outstanding feature
Of the meeting was a discussion by
Lion Gillespie, who spoke regard
ing the status of the proposed Lib
by School Gymnasium-Audito
Tor which bonds in the amount of
$4,000 were voted in 1916. At
the time the bonds were voted, it
was impossible to let the contract
on account of a shortage of build
1ng materials. Since then building
costs have spiralled till it is now
estimated that at least $4,000 will
be required to build the gymnasium
auditorium which was originally de
signed for use as a gymnasium by
the school and for a public as
sembly building by the community
Since l945 the enrolment in the
Libby schools has increased ten
percent and the present birth rate
IN Libby shows that an increase in
the lower grades during the next
five years will probably amount to
at least 800 over the present time.
The present increase has caused
a cOngeSted condition in the high
school and a similar condition in
the grades Gillespie stated that
an addition of four grade school
rooms should be made next year.
The cost of these additional rooms
TO the New Central Building is es-
timated at $4,000 Portable class
rooms have been suggested to fill
IN the emergency period, and are in
use in some Montana cities These
however, are at best makeshifts, and
expensive ones, each room costing
from $4,000 to $4,000. OF course. the
superintendent added. it would be
possible TO partition the auditorium
at the New Central, making two
class rooms In addition to fur
nishing insufficient room to entirely
alleviate the crowded conditions.
this course will curtail our music,
health, and visual education pro-
grams
Three courses are open for the
school board. One to wait out the
high price cycle-if possible; anoth- |
or, TO build an inferior gymnasium !
auditorium. A third alternative is
to let the contract at prevailing
prices, subject to an additional bond !
levy, and then put the matter be- !
fore the property owners for them |
10 decide by ballot whether to |
issue the bonds or cancel the con-
tract and let the schools exist as
best they may without improve |
ment The matter of federal aid /
has been mentioned. 1t was eX-
planned by Mr. Gillespie that fed
aral aid is not available for school
1t may come in the fu
,ure, but is still an uncertainty. 1t
is legally possible to vote bonds
Tor both high schools and grade
schools in the amount of 80 of the
assessed valuation This would en-
ible Libby High to raise $240,000,
and the grade school $4,000, which
caves an ample margin between
he needs of the school and the {
egal bond limit.
Many of the Lions, following the
superintendent discussion, express
ed themselves in favor of addi-
ional bonds for the building of the
gymnasium auditorium and for tax
ng care of the needed room in a
proper and permanent manner, the
being that if any build l
ng is done now, all needed build I
ng should be completed at the same
ime. Fred MetZger, representing
he VIEW, mentioned the need in (
ur schools for expanding the vo- c
ational set-up in behalf of stu t
Tents who are not so accidentally d
minded. l f this needed addition is
made, it will also add to building I
osts. The matter was referred to |
he civic committee consisting of
ames Christie, Leo Kyser, Fred |
.aRoque, Walter Partlow, E. J. n
)riear, Harold Miller and Russell n
best, which will check into the n
lbject still further, sound out pub
C opinion and report their find +
lgs at the clubs next meeting. Ii
IeanWhile, Sup't Gillespie states, n
ne School Board will be pleased p
> present the matter to indivi- a
uals or groups, who may be inter o
sted
The club voted to assist in send n
lg representatives to this years Il
oy's State at Dillon. p
Guests present at the meeting in
uded Don CaminZen, Spokane, a
d Bryant, Great Falls, Messrs. p
mart and Starduck, Missoula: Tom e
awel, Bill Darlington, Fred Metz s.
er and Robert Hileman
ion President Brown announced 4