Leaders in the Nampa and Kuna school districts vow to learn more about their communities after voters soundly rejected a combined $321 million in bond proposals, the largest statewide requests on Tuesday’s ballots.  Nampa’s proposed $210.2 million bond to modernize facilities and build a new high school garnered 40% voter support, well short of the 66.7% supermajority needed to approve the measure. Kuna’s voters showed up with a bit more support (58.5%) but still well shy of the supermajority. Kuna proposed a $111.4 million bond issue for several projects, including a new elementary schoo ..read more

Coeur d’Alene Superintendent Shon Hocker was in a state of shock on Wednesday morning.  Reeling from the news that two of the district’s school funding measures failed by razor-thin margins, Hocker was still processing what the losses mean for his schools, staff, and students.  “I almost just don’t have any words,” he said. “We certainly did not expect to win by a landslide, but I don’t think anybody expected the results that ended up happening.” The first blow: a permanent, $25 million-a-year supplemental levy — one that’s been regularly passed since the ‘80s and makes up 25% of the ..read more

Last updated: Wednesday at 12:59 a.m. Five of seven bonds failed Tuesday night, falling short of Idaho’s notably high two-thirds supermajority threshold for approval. Supplemental levies, which generally require a lower approval threshold to pass, were more successful throughout the state. However, the night’s biggest ticket item — Coeur d’Alene’s permanent, $25 million-a-year supplemental levy — failed with 49% support, just missing the needed simple majority. The largest bond measure of the night — Nampa School District’s $210.2 million ask — failed with 60.1% support, shy of the needed 66.6 ..read more

IDAHO FALLS — Bonneville Joint School District trustees unanimously approved putting a $34.5 million bond on the May ballot — but not before overcoming some hiccups.  At the regular March 8 board meeting, trustees first issued a split 3-2 vote approving the ballot measure, with Trustees Randy Smith and Greg Calder opposing.  Seven words — about how to use a small chunk of the potential funds — drove the initial rift.  After their “nay” votes, Smith and Calder clarified that they support the bond’s major intended projects — a new, $32 million elementary school and $2.5 million fo ..read more

Coeur d’Alene School District officials on Wednesday called out what they termed a “bogus,” “disgusting,” “unethical and un-American” disinformation campaign about its two upcoming ballot initiatives — a $25 million perpetual supplemental levy and a five-year, $25 million plant facilities levy.  The measures will appear on the ballot on March 14.  “Households in the Coeur d’Alene School District are being subjected to a last-minute campaign to confuse voters,” a district press release read.  “It is regrettable that a group would use bogus facts to confuse and scare voters this c ..read more

West Ada School District trustees unanimously approved on Monday night the largest education funding ask to make it on a ballot in Idaho history — a 10-year, $500 million plant facilities levy.  If passed during the May election, the levy would pay for two new elementary schools, a new CTE center, and maintenance, repairs, renovations, and expansions throughout the district. Seven community members, including parents, a local employer, and a teacher spoke in favor of the levy at the regular board meeting. Aaron Ricks, the operations manager at Western Trailers, shared his support for the ..read more

It could be the biggest school election day in Idaho history. On March 14, voters will decide on bonds and levies running more than $1 billion — making it, easily, the spendiest election day in the past several years. For more insight, read Kevin Richert’s analysis on how this probable record-setting day might be the last election day of its kind.  About $700 million of the March 14 bond issues and levies have a set lifespan. If passed, the bond issues would run from 10 to 30 years. The levies would run from one to 10 years. Then there’s Lewiston’s five-year supplemental levy, for a proje ..read more

When districts put bonds on the ballot in hopes of financing one or more new schools, the chances of voter approval in Idaho are 50/50: a coin toss.  If districts lose, the problems that sparked the ballot initiative — overcrowding, outdated schools, safety concerns — don’t go away.  So district leaders make do with their cracked foundations and outdoor food storage. They might seek creative but short-term solutions, like redrawn boundaries or modular classrooms. Hallways, principal’s offices and lunchrooms might become classrooms.  Or leaders might hang their hopes on a new sol ..read more

Are you ready to vote in the general election on Tuesday? If not, we’ve got you covered. To help all Idahoans be informed voters, we’ve put together some last-minute prep materials for you to look over before Election Day. Make sure you’re registered to vote by using the secretary of state’s voter record search tool. If you aren’t registered, you can do so on Tuesday at your polling place with a valid form of identification and proof of address. Head to vote.idaho.gov to find your polling place, check your absentee ballot status and find other voting information. To find your sample ballo ..read more

Parents in the Idaho Falls School District are split over the prospect of year-round school or split sessions if a record-breaking bond issue to build and upgrade schools fails Tuesday. Just over 51% of about 1,000 parents recently surveyed by the district said they’d prefer year-round school if trustees have to “take drastic steps to address safety, security and overcrowding at high schools,” survey results shared by the district show. Just over 48% said they’d prefer split sessions, where half the students attend classes in the morning and half attend in the afternoon to reduce the number of ..read more