Local school districts are asking for community support of bond, levies

Bonneville School District 93 approved a recommendation for a bond to build a new high school Wednesday.

Voters defeated a bond last March to build a new elementary, middle, and high school.

This year, the school board created a committee made up of patrons for and against the bond.

The final recommendation was to build a new high school.

The school will hold 1,500 students and could expand to 1,800.

The bond will cost $56.7 million and last 17 1/2 years. That’s just more than half of what last year’s bond would have cost.

If approved, construction won’t begin for another year.

The school would be completed in 2018.

The district wants those who live near the proposed high school to be part of the design process.

“We wanted them to say we want the parking lots here, or not, and the traffic flow will come this way. So we felt like if they’re going to live by it that they should have (a) say in how it is designed,” said school board chairperson, Annette Winchester.

The district has set two site committee meetings.

The first, is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at Cloverdale Elementary. The other is 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29 at Iona Elementary.

Board members say getting this bond approved is about student safety.

“I feel like it is critical for the safety of our kids and also for them academically in order for them to be able to progress,” said trustee Amy Landers. “It is a critical vote.”

If the bond passes, it will cost homeowners $4.92 for every $100,000 dollars of property value.

The election will be March 10.

District 93 is not the only one asking for community support.

Idaho Falls School District 91 is asking for a renewal of its $6.8 million supplemental levy.

This is not a new levy, the district has had a supplemental levy for more than 30 years.

It was been set at $6.8 million since 2003 so voting in favor would not increase taxes.

The district superintendent said the word may be “supplemental” but the levy is seen as essential.

“It’s not as supplemental as it used to be with all of the cuts that we had with the economic downturn. Hopefully the Legislature will be able to provide more restoration than they did last year,” said Superintendent George Boland.

Supplemental levies are required to be voted for renewal every two years.