District 93 School Board brainstorms solutions to overcrowding

Overcrowding in Bonneville District 93 has become so critical, one district administrator says something must be done to avoid an unmanageable crisis in the future.

The District 93 Board met Wednesday to weigh its options in tackling schools so full, their modular classrooms are even filling up.

Administrators at Hillcrest High School said students are shoulder-to-shoulder in the halls during passing periods and Wednesday’s meeting was a chance to hear possible solutions.

“It makes me really nervous, the wave that’s coming of the students,” said Craig Miller, principal at Technical High School. “I think we need to start doing something else pretty quickly or we’re going to have some problems.”

Miller said tomorrow’s problems are foretold in the district’s current enrollment statistics.

Hillcrest High School has more than 1,300 students and a capacity of 1,500 including trailers.

Bonneville High School is at 1,325 students, and capacity is just at 1,400 with trailers.

“Putting more trailers isn’t going to help the situation,” said Miller. “The best option is to build a third high school, build a third middle school.”

Miller said the district could also expand middle and high schools, but it wouldn’t change the hallway crowding. Current high schools could become 10th through 12th grade buildings with ninth grade joining middle schools.

“It’s all about getting the right people in the right positions to make it work,” said Miller.

Board chairman, Craig Lords, says discussions on a plan of action will be ongoing.