LPOSD board unveils 10-year facility plan

Sandpoint Middle School is slated to receive major renovations in the coming years.

The Lake Pend Oreille School District trustees gathered Tuesday evening to review a new 10-year facility plan that includes a budget of $18.5 million for expanding and repairing the middle school between 2025 and 2026.  

Enabled by a $14.7 million state funding package the board expects to secure soon, the renovations will include a cafeteria expansion, accessibility upgrades, and a new practice gym and roof. 

District facilities director Matt Diel told the board that the exact upgrades are subject to change. 

“Once we start working with an architect and possibly a general contractor during the design process, we'll have to figure out what we can really afford to do and what those priorities are,” Diel said. 

Built in 1953, Sandpoint Middle School has begun to show its age. A team of evaluators classified the building’s condition as “unsatisfactory” in June and identified problems with the building's electrical, plumbing, and heating systems. Both natural aging and damage incurred in a December 2023 flooding incident have contributed to the school's present state. 

The 10-year plan also identified the maintenance of Northside, Washington, and Farmin Stidwell elementary schools as priorities. All three were constructed more than 60 years ago; Northside and Washington are slated to receive upgrades to steam heat infrastructure, electrical systems, and restrooms by 2027. 

“It's just exciting to see it outlined this way, and that there’s actually state revenue coming in for it,” board chair Geraldine Lewis said of the new plan. 

Tuesday’s meeting also featured a brief report from district chief financial officer Brian Wallace. LPOSD is not likely to exceed its budget before the start of the school year and does not expect to draw from its contingency fund. 

Wallace reported that enrollment is down by 38 students year-to-date, a loss of about 1% of the district’s total population.  

The next board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Aug. 13 at the district office, 365 Triangle Drive, Ponderay.