Pocatello/Chubbuck school district will go back to boundary schools

The Pocatello/Chubbuck school board made a final decision Wednesday night about school choice.

According to the district information officer, the board today did eliminate school choice and will go back to boundary schools.

The board did approve the middle school boundary changes as proposed by the committee but tabled a decision on high school boundary changes.

They are studying a revised plan.

Shelley Allen tells Local News 8 and KIDK Eyewitness News 3 the board grandfathered in all current high school and middle school students so they can stay at the school they attend now if they want.

You can view the boundary maps HERE.

Here is who is affected by the middle school boundary changes:

1. Hawthorne Middle School students west of Philbin Road and south of Reservation Road will now go to Irving Middle School.
2. Alameda Middle School students west of Yellowstone Highway will now go to Hawthorne Middle School.
3. Hawthorne Middle School students north of Ellis Road and East of the Yellowstone Highway will now go to Alameda Middle School.
4. Irving Middle School students south of Swisher Street and west of Interstate 15 will now go to Franklin Middle School.

The school board did not vote on the high school boundaries themselves. It has tabled that decision, pending further information and public input on requested changes to the boundaries by the board from their last discussion.

Online public comment through the district website it open through Jan. 24 on the boundaries. A public hearing will be held Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Pocatello High School auditorium for the board to hear public input. Then, the board will meet Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m. also at the PHS auditorium, where it hopes to make a final decision on how the new boundaries will be divided up. No public comment will be taken at the Jan. 25 meeting.

For information or to submit comment, go here to the district’s website.