West Yellowstone School
www.westyellowstone.k12.mt.us
School Addition - 2015
“Building excellence today that will inspire our tomorrow.”
The Concept
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Bond funds will be used for the following improvements to the
school and site:
Renovation of existing classrooms and addition of four new classrooms
Addition of a multi-purpose room with a stage and adjacent lobby
Expansion of kitchen facilities, primarily dry and cold storage space
Additional parking and improvements to traffic drive-through
Improvements to technology infrastructure, utilities, fire and security systems
Why Now?
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Bond Rates – lowest in 20 years
Gallatin County is the fastest growing county in Montana - additional
property owners help share the county tax burden
Construction costs are not likely to go down in the future – every day we
wait, the costs of construction materials and labor increase.
The Benefits
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Bond rates / Construction costs
Students / Faculty / Community
Additional needed classrooms in the elementary
Free-up rooms in the High School that are being
used by elementary grades
Existing rooms can be used to offer more electives for Junior High
and High School students
Increase computer accessibility for all students
Larger room for band/choir
True multi-purpose room that can be used for band concerts, plays, graduation, indoor recess,
second gymnasium, town recreation (open gym)
Increase storage and freezer space in the kitchen
More parking and better traffic flow
Student safety – relieve morning and afternoon hall and outdoor congestion issues; moves the
playground to a safer location
Address infrastructure needs, including the boiler system, insufficient storage, etc.
Improvement to fire and security systems
West Yellowstone School
www.westyellowstone.k12.mt.us
Some of the issues we are facing:
Overcrowding
Elementary Classrooms
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Elementary enrollment has steadily increased over the last 6 years.
5th and 6th grade and Resource Room classes moved to the High School Wing
Splitting of Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade classes over the last 6 years
Kindergarten is held in a room not intended to be a classroom
High School Classes
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High School classrooms have been displaced due to elementary in High School Wing
Rooms, not intended as classrooms are being used as makeshift classrooms
Electives have been reduced due to insufficient classroom availability
Social Studies / Business room is being held in a small, cramped room intended to be
the High School Title 1 room.
Band room is very crowded, with approximately 35 – 40 students comprising the HS band
Student Safety
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Student Drop-off / Pick-up Area
Traffic jams occur daily at beginning and end of school day
After School, parents are double/triple parked waiting for children to exit
the building
Children are exposed to open access of playground
Other Safety Concerns
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Band concerts have become overcrowded, with standing-room only, breaking the fire code
Stage used for graduation and the Christmas program was purchased in 1955
No current back-up emergency communication system – insufficient security cameras
Infrastructure
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Inadequacies
Boiler system fatigue
Insufficient storage areas in kitchen
Limited computer accessibility for all students with out-of-date
technology
Lack of rooms for electives or competitive college placement classes
Gym roof is at maximum life
Elementary school overcrowded