District 91 asks supporters, opponents to give input at community meeting

The Idaho Falls School District 91 invites the community to its State of Our Schools meeting Tuesday. The school district will discuss improvements to school buildings and future bonds.

“It is part of the ongoing process to develop a 10-year facilities master plan for the district,” said Margaret Wimborne, director of communications and community engagement for Idaho Falls School District 91. “Over the last few years, the district has been looking at ways to upgrade and improve our school buildings, specifically our high schools.”

The school district said that after the failed bond in August, the board of trustees went back to the drawing board. Community members and parents will have a chance to share ideas about school infrastructure and the best possible ways the district can help meet the needs of current and future students.

Idaho Falls School District 91 mentions that in order to do major renovations to schools, they would need to try to pass another bond. That would require a two-thirds majority vote from the public.

“It’s critical that we get input from the community and we have them help us develop this plan,” Wimborne said.

The community meeting on Tuesday is about setting up the planning guidelines for the board of trustees. The district will be gathering recommendations and then present them to the board in the summer. The board will then review the proposals and decide how to move forward. It could include ideas like major renovations to buildings or boundary changes.

“Community input is a critical part of crafting this plan to improve our school facilities,” said Superintendent George Boland in a news release. “We are asking the whole community — supporters and opponents — to help us create something two-thirds of our patrons will support. We need that level of support if we are going to pass the bond that will be necessary to pay for the upgrades.”

The district has contracted with Cooperative Strategies to analyze the school buildings. The company will give a presentation at the meeting on issues the district faces like building conditions and capacity.

Cooperative Strategies will also be working with a steering committee that Idaho Falls School 91 has. It is made up of parents, patrons, students, staff and community leaders who will help develop options and recommendations while the process goes on.

The community can stay updated on the master plan by visiting the project’s website. Presentations to the board of trustees and work that the steering committee has done will be posted online.

Another community meeting is planned at Skyline High School on May 15.

“There are lots of ways for people to get involved and that’s really what we are looking for is the community to get involved in this project,” Wimborne said.

State of Our Schools community meeting is on Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Skyline High School. Those who cannot attend the meeting will be able to participate online.