District 93 trustees recommend building a new high school

A school board meeting for Bonneville School District 93 went well into the night Thursday trying to solve overcrowding in schools across the district.

After over 4 hours of discussion, the Board of Trustees made the decision to recommend a committee vote in approval on a bond for a new high school.

If the committee does vote in favor for the bond, it would appear on the November Ballot.

Assistant Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme presented the overall growth projections for the next 15 years. According to those numbers, Woolstenhulme predicts the total bonding necessary by 2030 will be $223.8-million to accommodate growth.

Jeff Bird represents the new newly formed “D93 Solutions Group.” He presented some ideas in front of the board.

Bird said the group agrees there is an issue and something needs to be done. He said their projections show they don’t need build a new high school until 2023.

The group proposes to annex Sandcreek Middle School and add another middle school to filter into Hillcrest High School or putting 9th graders with middle school students while also building a new middle school.

Board Chairman Brian McBride said the D93 Solution Committee did not give any solutions. Another board member asked why is the group trying to halt running a bond right now? McBride said he was expecting to see a full plan of why a middle school would be a better idea, but that didn’t happen. He said, “Come with your numbers, but you didn’t do that.”

Board members said Jeff Bird is a big part of this discussion, he’s on the board, and they do want his help. But they are still having the same problems that they had two years ago.

Bird says he has been presenting this for about two years and now he’s asking for a “fair public survey.” Board member Amy Landers brought up Bird was opposed to a survey just a few weeks ago in in a meeting. He said he didn’t know much into research then, but says he thinks it’s a good idea.

The Solutions group all said there are huge risks to push any plan without vetting a middle school because the number of students is changing.

According to the district, growth projections show in the years 2015/2016, one new high school would need to be built to hold 1500-1800 students.

In 2017/2018, 44 additional elementary classrooms would be needed.

In 2021/2022, A new middle school to hold 1000-1200 students. Plus, 18 additional elementary classrooms would be needed.

In 2025/2026, A new elementary that holds 750 students.12 additional elementary classrooms and 32 additional high school classrooms

In 2027/2028, 2 new elementary schools that hold 750 students.

If the board decides to run another bond, they have until September 14 to file paperwork for the bond to appear on the November ballot.