Jolly Updates!
December 2022
D91 Continues Focus on Achievement
As we start the second trimester, Idaho Falls School District 91 continues to focus on student achievement, and is pleased to announce another school – Longfellow Elementary School – has earned HRS Level 1 status.
One of D91’s goals is to create High Reliability Schools across the district using the HRS framework created by Marzano Resources. The framework was created to transform schools into organizations that take proactive steps to ensure student success. Based on 50 years of research, the framework includes five levels that educators assess, monitor and confirm to ensure the effectiveness of their schools. The five levels are: 1) Safe, Supportive & Collaborative Culture, 2) Effective Teaching in Every Classroom, 3) Guaranteed & Viable Curriculum, 4) Standards-Referenced Reporting and 5) Competency-based Education.
In addition, D91 is celebrating the fact that seven D91 schools have made enough improvement to be exited from Targeted Support and Improvement status by the state. Those schools include: Skyline, Longfellow, Edgemont, Theresa Bunker, Westside, Fox Hollow and Sunnyside.
D91 Board Looking at Options To Address Facility Needs
With the failure of the bond, the Board of Trustees has been seeking input and discussing options for addressing the overcrowding and safety and security issues in our schools. Board members will continue looking at these issues at their next board meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, in the Idaho Falls High School Media Center. (If you can’t attend the meeting, all D91’s board meetings are live-streamed via the district website.)
So far, the board has been discussing:
Elementary School Boundary Changes: Administrators are identifying elementary schools that can accommodate more students. They will then draft recommendations for boundary changes that could alleviate overcrowding by shifting students from some schools to others. The board will share proposals with parents, patrons and staff and get community input.
Split Sessions For Idaho Falls High School: To address critical safety and overcrowding issues at Idaho Falls High School, board members are considering split sessions with some students attending morning classes and some students attending afternoon classes. Board members have asked administrators to study staffing, costs and also: identify classes that could be offered online, analyze the benefits of staggered start times, change class offerings to focus on required classes and more.
They also asked for ideas on other ways to address these critical issues and we thank all the parents, patrons, and staff who responded to that call. Board members will review that input and continue looking at options and will present alternatives to the community for feedback before making any final decisions. Watch for updates after the Board of Trustees' meeting
D91Gives
Congrats to The Mighty Grizz!
The Skyline High School Football Team is the 4A State Champs for the third year in a row. Congrats to Coach Berger and the Team!
Good Luck!
D91 Starts Recruiting For Teachers
Research shows there’s no bigger impact on student achievement than an excellent teacher, and D91 has started recruiting elementary, secondary and special education teachers for the 2023-24 school year.
Anyone interested in becoming a teacher in Idaho Falls School District 91 should make plans to attend the district’s in-house job fair on Saturday, Jan. 7. To be considered for an interview, candidates must complete a job application and also the Job Fair Interview Form. Once those materials are submitted, D91 staff will review them and then follow up with candidates.
D91 has one of the region’s most competitive wage and benefit packages, including state health insurance, so join our team and make a difference!
Changes Coming to D91 Online Academy
D91 launched the D91 Online Academy in the midst of a worldwide pandemic as a new learning option for D91 families, and it has been evolving ever since. Now, more exciting changes are coming to the D91 Online Academy.
The Idaho Falls Board of Trustees this week is anticipated to sign a five-year contract with Accel Online West to manage and grow D91’s online program beginning in the 2023-24 school year. Accel partners with communities across the country to create safe and supportive learning environments where all students can grow socially and academically. The company manages more than 50 schools with more than 23,000 students across the country.
Accel will oversee all aspects of the D91 Online Academy using proven educational practices personalized to meet students’ unique needs. Current D91 Online Academy teachers and staff can apply to teach with Accel or return to a brick-and-mortar classroom in Idaho Falls School District 91. More information about the transition will be available once the contract is signed.
"D91 Online Academy has provided eastern Idaho families with a unique personalized learning experience, and through this new partnership with Accel, we look forward to making that experience available to even more students and families, not just in eastern Idaho, but around the state and the region", said D91 Supt. Dr. Jim Shank.
Need To Pay For School Lunch?
Thank you, FOP!
The Bonneville County Fraternal Order of Police donated $10,000 to D91 to support the law enforcement classes at the district’s new Career & Technical Education Center. Thank you! Thank you!
Mark Your Calendar!
D91 Looking At New Math Credits
The math classes students need to take to graduate from high school may be changing in Idaho Falls School District 91. Idaho recently changed the math requirements students need to meet to graduate, eliminating math in the senior year, and D91 is looking at a similar change.
The Board of Trustees recently asked administrators to look at this issue. A committee of D91 curriculum staff and math teachers has been reviewing the pros and cons of changing the requirements for several weeks and is expected to recommend to the board that D91 change its math graduation requirements to align with the state’s new math requirements.
If the board approves the recommendation, D91 students, beginning with the Class of 2024, would be required to complete a total of nine credits – three credits of Algebra I, three credits of Geometry and then three credits of mathematics of the student’s choice, including CTE math credits. Students who are planning to attend a four-year university or pursue a specific career path such as STEM may want to or need to take additional math courses.
Watch for more updates on this change in the new year.
Saving Money With New Lease Agreement
As part of its ongoing efforts to make good use of taxpayer money, D91 has started leasing district vehicles from Enterprise Fleet Management rather than buying district vehicles. The move is expected to save the district more than $50,000 a year over the next 10 years.
The district’s fleet of aged cars is being replaced with more, new vehicles so more employees will be able to use them rather than renting vehicles or racking up mileage. In addition, a fleet of newer vehicles also will reduce the district’s vehicle repair and maintenance costs. The vehicles will be used for one to three years, and then returned to Enterprise and replaced with new vehicles.
“We are glad to be finally implementing this program, which will save the district money, and free up funds that can be better used to support students and teachers,” said D91 Supt. Jim Shank. “These types of programs have been used in districts around the country and produced thousands and thousands of dollars in savings.”
The Board of Trustees approved the agreement months ago, but vehicles only arrived in the district a few weeks ago because of supply chain issues. Other entities that use the Enterprise Fleet Management system include Bonneville School District 93, Cassia School District 151, Ogden School District, Tooele County School District, Bannock and Madison counties.
Important Dates:
- Dec. 14: Board Business Meeting, Idaho Falls High School Media Center, 6 pm
- Dec. 19-Jan. 2: D91 Holiday Break, No School, District Offices Closed
- Jan. 3: 1st Day of School After Holiday Break
- Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Day, NO SCHOOL
- Jan. 16-17: D91 Staff Development, NO SCHOOL
- Feb. 6-17: Parent-Teacher Conference Block. Check days/times with your school
- Feb. 20: Presidents’ Day: NO SCHOOL
D91 Ed Foundation Launches Annual Campaign
The Idaho Falls School District 91’s Education Foundation, which supports teachers and inspires students, has launched its annual fund-raising campaign. It’s easy to donate to the foundation online, and donations often qualify for tax credits or tax deductions.
The Ed Foundation this year awarded more than $30,000 in college scholarships through partnerships with the Maeck Family Foundation, Odd Fellows, the Rahl Family, and NEW scholarships funded by the Ed Foundation’s Century Ride.
In addition, it awarded more than $100,000 in teacher grants through partnerships with the Maeck Family Foundation and celebrated D91 teachers, staff and students with prizes, giveaways and special events.
This holiday season, give a gift that makes a difference and donate to the D91 Ed Foundation!D91 Board To Consider New High School Diplomas
As D91 continues its focus on preparing students for success after high school, the Board of Trustees is considering creating special high school diplomas for specific career pathways and specialties, including a Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Diploma, a Career-Technical Education Diploma and a Bi-Literacy Diploma.
In order to earn the new diplomas, high school students would need to successfully complete specific requirements. For example, to earn the STEM diploma, students would need to complete all math and science graduation requirements established by the Idaho State Board of Education as well as earn five additional credits in the student’s choice of any or all STEM subjects. The Bi-Literacy Diploma’s requirements include completion of all state graduation requirements and demonstrate the ability to comprehend, speak, read and write in two languages.
Specialized diplomas not only recognize a student’s accomplishments, but also can give students a competitive edge in the job market by highlighting their qualifications and potential career paths. Look for more information on how and when students can start earning these special diplomas in the new year.Use STOPit!
FREE Mental Health Resources Available
If your family is struggling, remember D91 offers FREE mental health resources like parent coaching, online classes, and Ask A Therapist through parentguidance.org
Calling All Subs!
Work Begins on K-6 ELA Curriculum
Idaho Falls school District 91 has started work on updating the district’s K-6 English Language Arts curriculum. A K-6 ELA Committee – made up of teachers from every elementary school and every grade level, community members and a board member – has started reviewing new curriculum options. After an extensive review and evaluation process, the committee will narrow the options to two. Then, parents and patrons will be invited to community meetings to review the materials before the committee makes a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees. The board will take additional input and the materials will be available for a 30-day review before the board makes a final decision.
D91 strives to make all curriculum adoptions an open and transparent process. Anyone who has questions about this work can contact Elementary Curriculum Coordinator Todd Brown at browtodd@sd91.org. Check out the Parent’s Guide to D91’s current curriculum materials for all grade levels and core subjects here.