New D91 Updates!
January 2023
Board Asks Patrons To Renew Supplemental Levy
The Idaho Falls Board of Trustees is asking parents and patrons to go to the polls on March 14, 2023, to vote on renewal of the district’s Supplemental Levy, which generates $6.8 million a year in critical funding.
D91’s supplemental levy is not new. In fact, the district has relied on a supplemental levy for more than 30 years. Despite today’s rising costs and high inflation, the amount of D91’s supplemental levy has not changed since 2003.
The two-year levy generates funding to support safety and security in D91’s schools in the form of school resource officers, guidance and health counselors, psychologists, school nurses and health technologists. It also supports extracurricular activities such as debate, choir, drama, band, orchestra and sports. The bulk of the money, about $5.43 million a year, goes to salaries and benefits for teachers and staff.
“The supplemental levy has played a vital role in Idaho Falls School District 91’s efforts to keep students safe and to provide them with the very best education and opportunities, and it’s just as important today as it was 30 years ago,” said D91 Superintendent Jim Shank.
The supplemental levy must be renewed every two years. Polls on March 14 will be open from 8 am to 8 pm. For more information on early voting, election poll locations and more, visit the Bonneville County Elections Office website here or call (208) 529-1363Board Seeking Candidates For Open Zone 3 Seat
The Board of Trustees is accepting applications for candidates interested in filling the open board seat representing Zone 3. Lara Hill, who has represented Zone 3 since September 2018, resigned Jan. 11.
Anyone interested in filling the seat should submit an application and letter of interest to the Idaho Falls School District office at 690 John Adams Parkway, Idaho Falls, ID 83402. Applications are available on the district website. Letters of interest should include the candidate’s qualifications and the reasons he or she would like to serve on the Board of Trustees. Applications and letters of interest are due by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Interested candidates must be 18 years old or older, a U.S. citizen, a resident of Idaho and a resident of Zone 3. Zone 3 includes the Theresa Bunker, Edgemont, Longfellow, Linden Park and Sunnyside elementary school areas. Click here for a complete description of Zone 3. To see a map of the zones, click here.
Board members plan to review applications, and then announce next steps at their Feb. 8 business meeting. The new board member will serve the balance of Hill’s term, which ends in November 2023.
Congrats to BPA!
Don’t Miss A Board Meeting
The D91 Board of Trustees just posted its 2023 meeting calendar. All board meetings are open to the public. If you can’t make a meeting, remember, they’re all livestreamed here.
Thank you!
Did You Know D91 Has A Magnet High School?
Compass Academy, D91’s magnet high school, is now accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year. The school that serves students in grades 9-12 provides hands-on, project-based instruction in a technology-rich environment built on trust, respect and responsibility.
If you have an 8th grader looking for options as they make the move to high school, make plans to attend one of Compass’ parent information nights planned from 6 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 17 in the Taylorview Library, on Jan. 18 in the Compass Academy Auditorium and on Jan. 19 in the Eagle Rock Library. In addition, on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., a Project Expo is planned at Compass Academy, which is a great opportunity to meet Compass students and learn about current and past projects.
Applications are due March 2. If there are more applications than available slots, a lottery will be held on March 3. Learn more and download an application.Check Out D91’s CTE Center!
If you haven’t checked out D91’s new stand-alone Career & Technical Education Center yet, make plans to attend the CTEC Open House from 3 to 7 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
The Open House will give you the chance to tour the campus, visit the hands-on classrooms, talk to teachers and students and learn more about the programs.
D91 strives to provide students with lots of options and opportunities, and CTE classes are a great way for students to explore careers and pathways, earn certifications and/or college credits and get valuable work experience through hands-on projects and internships.
With the stand-alone CTE Center, D91 has been able to expand its CTE offerings to include classes such as welding, construction trades, industrial mechanics and animal veterinary science, while still offering popular classes like certified nursing assistant, emergency medical technician, pharmacy technician, cyber security and networking, automotive technology, culinary arts, education assistant and more.
Classes are open to juniors and seniors and, if space allows, sophomores. If you have a high school student, make sure you review the CTE options during registration. Check out the full slate of programs.
Important Dates:
Jan. 16-17: D91 Staff Development, NO SCHOOL
- Jan. 17: Open House For Career Technical Education Center, 3 to 7 pm, 450 E. St.
- Jan. 23 - 27: Countdown begins for One District, One Book
- Jan. 23 - Feb. 4: Souper Bowl, IFHS & Skyline’s Annual Canned Food Drive
- Jan. 24: School Board Work Session, 4 pm, IFHS Library
- Jan. 30: Career Day For All Juniors & Sophomores, Mountain America Events Center
- Jan. 30 - Feb. 17: One District, One Book - Let’s build a community of readers!
- Feb. 6-17: Parent-Teacher Conference Block. Check days/times with your school
- Feb. 7: Deadline for Zone 3 Residents To Apply For Open Board Seat
- Feb. 8: School Board Business Meeting, 5:30 pm, IFHS Library
- Feb. 20: Presidents’ Day: NO SCHOOL
- Feb. 21: School Board Work Session, 4 pm, IFHS Library
It's Souper Bowl Time!
Idaho Falls and Skyline high school students are getting ready for the annual “Souper Bowl” food drive, which will kick off on Jan. 23 and run through Feb. 4. The food drive has become one of the biggest food drives in the area and benefits the Idaho Falls Community Food Basket.
During the Souper Bowl, you will probably see students at local grocery stores collecting donations. They also collaborate with their feeder middle schools and elementary schools so all students have a chance to participate in this community service project. In addition, both IFHS and SHS accept cash, check and Venmo donations to support the cause.
Watch for more information in the next week or two on IFHS and SHS’ social media and the D91Proud Facebook Page on how you can support this project, and please do what you can to donate and help combat food insecurity in Idaho Falls. Last year, students collected almost 50,000 pounds of food. They make us #D91Proud!
Are You Ready To Read?
D91 is getting ready to kick off its annual One District, One Book program on Jan. 30. For more than 11 years, elementary school families have all received a copy of the same book to read together following a set reading calendar as part of a district-wide “book club.” The program is a great way to improve reading skills because research shows that reading aloud to children for just 15 minutes a day has untold benefits.
Join in the countdown beginning Jan. 23 and see if you can figure out the title of this year’s book. Daily clues will be posted on the district website and D91Proud Facebook Page! Then, watch for the book and the reading calendar to come home with the youngest elementary school-aged child in your family on Monday, Jan. 30.
If you misplace the reading calendar or would like to listen to the book together instead of reading it together, check out the special One District, One Book page on our website later this month. A big shoutout to all our local “celebrity readers,” including Mayor Casper, Supt. Jim Shank, Nate Eaton and IF Fire Chief Duane Nelson, who recorded themselves reading the book. Let’s work together to create a community of readers!Helping Students Find Their Dream Job!
Thank you to all the local businesses who are taking part in D91’s annual Career Fair on Monday, Jan. 30, at the Mountain America Events Center.
The career fair is part of D91’s ongoing efforts to help students find a pathway to a bright future after high school by giving them the chance to learn about jobs, career pathways and the education or training they’ll need to land their dream job! All D91’s sophomores and juniors will attend the fair where they’ll be able to visit with representatives from more than 50 companies representing 16 different career clusters. If you have a business or trade you’d like to share with students, there’s still time, just contact Natalie Black, IFHS’ college and career advisor, at (208) 525-7740.Congrats to Emerson!
STOPit Expands To Busses
D91’s anonymous reporting system that allows students and parents to share safety concerns is now available on busses. Just search for Idaho Falls Transportation and report your concern.
Thank You!
Make Mental Health A Priority
As you consider your new year resolutions, keep your mental health in mind and remember the importance of maintaining balance in your life. Balancing busy family schedules, never-ending household duties, work life and your personal life can be challenging. Check out Parent Guidance’s January Mental Health Newsletter for tips on how to create and maintain balance in your life and the importance of prioritizing, scheduling and saying NO. D91 makes FREE mental health resources like the Mental Health Newsletter available to D91 families as part of its ongoing partnership with Parent Guidance. Visit parentguidance.org to learn more about the other resources like online classes, parent coaching, Ask a Therapist and more.