By CLARE MENZEL- News & Features Flathead Beacon

BIGFORK - The windows in teacher Stormy Taylor's classroom at Bigfork High School overlook Flathead Lake. Wide and south facing, they frame exactly the kind of scene that draws the wandering eyes of daydreaming high school students.

“It’s a beautiful view,” Taylor said at a Jan. 6 open house that showcased the school’s ongoing $14 million renovation. She smiled at the lake, which shone under the evening’s setting sun. “Students have been peeking out.”

But there’s a lot going on inside the classroom, too, which is one of eight new rooms that teachers began moving into this January as part of the makeover at Bigfork’s lone high school.

Last fall, voters overwhelmingly passed a bond approving the $14 million project. In addition to the new classrooms, the bond is funding development of a new bus barn with space for both the transportation and maintenance departments, separate locker rooms for physical education classes and athletic teams, a new band room with better acoustics and soundproofed practice rooms, and a community room. There will also be a host of updates to the gymnasium, library, foyer, and heating and cooling system.

Ahead of schedule and on budget, the project is already benefiting students.