Hungry Horse news. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1948-current, 1955-03-25
Land for Schools

(This is the second in series Of editorials on
the coming school eIecton).
Each of us at one time another talk about the
lack of civic planning
We look at the towns main street-almost any
town-and comment "isnt it too bad, this wasn't or
ignally laid out to be twice as wide"
When it to schools, remarks generally
concern location 1t is easy look back 10 years.
and see land that should have been purchased for
school improvements.
Question before district and Canyon View vot-
ers April is decide the future land question now
We've chance to use foresight Hindsight too sell
dom helps lick problem
Voters April 2 will approve or disapprove
four mill levy to raise $16,326 to purchase 1874
of land in the Hoerner addition site for future
high school expansion
This land purchase is to be achieved without
bond issue It will cost the average home owner
about 81 and that's ALL This is based the estimate
that the average householder pays about 500
year real estate and personal property taxes IN
Guiding the car
1t seems a good idea to finance school improve
ments by three four five mills when the amount
involved is under $4,000. Interest is avoided.
The PTA had an Informative session in Columbia
Falls Monday when O. s. Kronkright, local contract
or and member of the school planning committee
talked about the need for land purchase. He is
graduate of Columbia Falls high school in 1929
and well aware of the situation where additional
foresight would have eliminated some of the present
problems.
If Columbia Falls and other nearby commune
ties grow the present high school building will be
damned and overlooking next year.
Last fall enrolment reached 800 for the first
time. Next years anticipated enrolment the
basis of SO seniors graduating and ITO in eighth
grade is predicted at $50. That's the expected
rollment if the area holds the population already
here, and does not grow.
Fortunately the grade school addition of
fits into the picture and will temporar
lily help relieve fraction of the high school jam
ming The multi-purpose room in the grade school
is already shared
1t would be foolish to talk in terms of a bond
issue at this time for high school building.
Practical solution favors obtaining the best likely
land site, and then wait year two and see how
the develops
Frankly we view the new high school ST.
100000 plant and we see the tax base well able to
support such bond issue. 81 100000 is consider
able money for school. However, let's keep in mind
that the new grade school financed through a fed
eral grant, cost $35000O.
If we wait on the question of land purchase we
have the choice of paying to move houses or put
ting the school further out from the center of town.
Now insist that the school be located closer to
the town CENTER what three blocks of houses should
we condemn. Furthermore waiting will not suit
able land obtained for less than the $6326 asked by
the Hoerners.
There are citizens who do not like the idea of
the school going out to the Hoerner addition It will
be long way for some youngsters to walk.
Across the street from WneTe we i've tnere Is
vacant school-owned block. The tract of land is SUI
fcient to someday erect primary building of three
four rooms if that's the wish. There isn't enough
playground space to satisfy state requirements for
larger building
Enlargng the present high school building also
presents space problem There isn't the room, and
furthermore people are thinking in terms Of school
facilities actually being too concentrated right now
The present high school building is fine struc-
ture erected in 1940 It didn't easy, and seemed
pated high school enrollments under 1875 students
Events have proven the worth Of the building witt
its gym erected for $4,000. The space is well adj
apted for use by seventh and eighth graders, anc
then the nearly 50-year-old Talbot building can b.
removed
We've chance to use foresight at the polls Sat
urday, April 2, in this matter of school planning
Purchase OF the Hoerner tract may not be the idea
solution to anticipated school expansion needs
We've heard of other practical solution. MI