District 93 may go to split sessions

After voting polls closed the Bonneville School District found out that once again the bond to build a new high school failed by a very slim margin.

“In this day and age it’s the minority masquerading as the majority and they have the power to sway what 66 percent of the people want,” Superintendent Dr. Chuck Shackett said.

Some 66.19 percent voted in favor of building a new school. The state of Idaho requires a supermajority vote to pass a public school bond. The 33.81 percent who voted against it ultimately won.

“To have it defeated again when the supermajority really supports this 66 percent of the people support this, it’s just disheartening that the laws are such that make it to pass a bond when there is organized opposition,” Shackett said.

He said what’s more disheartening is what’s next for the students

“We don’t want to go to split sessions but now we’re going to have to,” Shackett said.

This would mean that half of the student population would attend school from 6:30 in the morning to 12:30 in the afternoon.

The other half would start at 1 and wrap up around 7 in the evening.

“We’re going to look at when will the population be unsafe to where it forces us to do it. It won’t be next year but we’re looking at ’16-’17 or ’17-’18,” Shackett said.

Shackett said the impact will go beyond the students.

“It will hurt the community, both businesses and the school district and the home values. It’s going to be difficult if you’re going to be selling a home. Unfortunately, you better sell it before we go to split sessions, because it’s going to be hard for someone to desire for someone to move into this area when they have other good options around this community,”said Shackett.

The margin was so close that the district will discuss a possible vote recount next Wednesday at the board work session.

Discussions on how and when split sessions will happen will not begin until next year.