District 25 celebrates end of high school bond

In front of Century High School on Wednesday, Pocatello/Chubbuck District 25 administrators and school board members gleefully released balloons into the air.

The reason: The district’s 20-year-long bond has officially been paid off.

Back in 1996, the district faced overcrowded high schools and the need for major renovations at Pocatello High School in the Old Town area. The solution came in the form of a bond, where taxpayers were given a choice of either building two new high schools, building a high school for 1,800 students, or building a high school for 1,200 students and fixing up Pocatello High School.

Seventy-five percent of voters decided to go with the last option and also decided to have it built south of town. The bond brought $27 million into the district and cost taxpayers $10.72 a month in taxes.

District 25’s school board chair, Jackie Cranor, said the bond came at a crucial time, and luckily the need for another like it won’t be for awhile.

“Our student population fluctuates between elementary, middle school and high school, but it always has stayed pretty close to the same numbers for the last several years,” Cranor said.

Cranor also said with the help of the bond the district has been able to save $1 million.