Idaho Falls School District 91 board approves design for addition to elementary school

At Sunnyside Elementary School in Idaho Falls, you’ll find kids working in the hallways and the multipurpose room that serves as a cafeteria and a gymnasium.

“There’s been a lot of growth on the south side of Idaho Falls,” said Margaret Wimborne, the spokesperson for Idaho Falls School District 91. “That’s put some pressure on Sunnyside (Elementary School).”

The school has more than 650 students attending, making it the largest elementary school in the district.

“Because of the number of students we have, it takes a while for us to get them through the cafeteria and get them fed,” Wimborne said.

Because of these reasons and more, it seems Idaho Falls School District 91 needs to figure out a solution.

The school board is now looking at an addition to the school. It would add four classrooms, additional bathrooms and a new cafeteria.

“It’s going to be a step-by-step process,” Wimborne. “The board this week approved moving forward on the design phase.”

Over the next few months, Idaho Falls School District 91 will start getting a design team together and put the project out for bids.

“The board would then get a better sense of what the costs are going to be,” Wimborne said.

That money would be used from the district’s reserve fund, making it so that there would be no reason to bond.

Idaho Falls School District 91 is also encouraging people to be involved with its 10-year master facility plan. On Oct. 8, there will be a community meeting to get public input.