One school for three villages? That was the question Steve Atwater, superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, asked a standing-room-only crowd representing the Russian Old Believer communities of Voznesenka, Razdolna and Kachemak Selo.

Atwater began the Tuesday after-school meeting with a clarification: "No decision has been made with regard to a new school. This is a chance to start to talk about it."

Currently, the district leases facilities that have been constructed by villagers. Voznesenka's campus, which also includes four portable classrooms, offers classes for grades K-12. As of this year, Razdolna's single building no longer has space to accommodate secondary grades. Plans were to incorporate grades 9-12 at Voznesenka, but concerns that included poor road conditions between the villages, resulted in those students remaining in Razdolna and enrolling in Connections, the district's homeschool program. Kachemak Selo, the most isolated of the three communities, currently has two buildings to accommodate grades K-12.

The age of the buildings and growth of student populations in the villages are making it increasingly difficult to provide adequate space.

"The district feels that Kachemak Selo, Razdolna and Voznesenka deserve the best education for your children," Atwater told the parents, adding, "We don't think these buildings are adequate from a space perspective."

The size of the buildings limits the opportunities available for students, Atwater said.

A single, larger building for the combined student body of all three villages would make it possible for such luxuries as a gymnasium, art room, shop, hockey rink, kitchen for a hot lunch program and vocation classes.

"Looking ahead, the current facilities are not a long-term solution," Atwater continued. "Now is a good opportunity to try to do something different."

Also looking ahead, projections are that Razdolna has a number of youngsters who will be coming into the school in the next few years, continuing to increase the need for more space.

Kachemak Selo is in a similar situation, while Voznesenka appears to be spread evenly among younger and older students.

Asking for community input, Atwater divided the crowd into three groups, asking them to list positives and negatives of a new school.

Then, the lists were displayed in front of the room, offering an opportunity for more comments.

Stirring the most discussion were concerns about road conditions, possible sites for the school, the impact of non-village students that might choose to enroll in the new school, and having a school calendar and food service that takes into consideration Russian Old Believers' dietary concerns.

The calendar offered flexibility, dictated only by state requirements for students to attend a specific number of days, Atwater said in answer to questions. With regard to a Russian Old Believer menu that would satisfy federal nutrition requirements, Ksenia Kuzmin, secretary at Voznesenka School, said she knew of a school in Oregon that had already accomplished that.

Atwater laid out the steps that would have to be taken before a building would be constructed:

* Local support for the new school would need to come from all three villages;

* Land would have to be identified for the site;

* The borough would have to obtain funding for the school, which Atwater estimated would be approximately $15 million for a 50,000 square foot facility to accommodate 250 students;

* Borough voters would have to approve funding through a bond;

* As soon as the financing was secured, the district would immediately begin work;

* If a bond were approved by voters in October 2010, a facility could be ready to open by August 2012.

Going back to the first step, Atwater said the villages would need to decide within the next six-eight months if a new school was what they wanted. That would give time to start working toward the October 2010 election.

"The question is why are we in a village and not in a town?" one parent said. "It's because we have a culture we want to preserve."

"We're not here to tear down a culture," Atwater said. "We're here to give your children the education they deserve. Maybe you don't want a new school. That's what you have to decide."

Between now and March, discussion will continue among villagers, with Atwater promising to answer questions and return for additional meetings if requested.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.