After months of debate and controversy, the Glacier Applied Learning Center was voted down as Kalispell voters rejected a plan Tuesday that would have levied $5.6 million to build a facility near FVCC. After being voted down last May, District 5 switched voting methods by going to a mail ballot system. Although 75 percent of the registered voters sent in ballots — meeting one of the goals of the project, namely getting over 40 percent of registered voters to send in their ballots — the issue was defeated, 8,664 to 3,962, a ratio of more than 2 to 1. “I don’t think our kids should be penalized just because they live in the Flathead Valley,” said Carol McGuire, a District 5 school board member and supporter of the GALC. “I feel that we’ve done everything we can.” Debate surrounded the learning center proposal from the start. Three weeks ago, a group of individuals in the community, lead by Semitool president Ray Thompson, published an ad in The Daily Interlake opposing the project. Thompson also proposed using Semitool facilities as an alternative to the GALC. “I would hope the doors are open to (Semitool),” said Jack Fallon, a school board member who vocally opposed the project. “The exciting thing now is that we’re in a situation to plan things out.” District 5 Superintendent Alan Hafer has been a major proponent of the learning center since his arrival in District 5 last June. Wednesday morning, Hafer expressed his disappointment at the vote but said there is still more work to do. “I think we had a chance to do something for education and young people,” said Hafer. Among District 5 school board members, Fallon was the most vocal opposed to the project. Fallon said that the school board can now try something new. “Let’s implement everything we can implement with our existing structure,” said Fallon. “I think the message is ‘don’t give us a dream, give us a plan.’” Flathead High Vice Principal Peter Fusaro said that despite a failed effort, the learning center proposal may have hit a nerve — and the ideas behind it may remain. “I don’t think (the loss) was all bad,” said Fusaro. “It brought a new awareness of the importance of technology.” The goal of the learning center was to “teach all of the students,” according to Hafer. English teacher Sue Brown feels that it is still possible. “I don’t think it was a surprise,” said Brown of the loss in the polls. “I don’t think the idea of offering students opportunities is dead, but the building is.” |
