D93 Family Update

One important, and sometimes overlooked, area of learning is the arts. We are grateful for the support of our patrons for the supplemental levy which is essential to D93's fine arts programs in elementary, middle school, and high school. As your middle school and high school students select classes for next year, I hope this video produced by the Bonneville HS performing arts department, may inspire them to consider opportunities to participate in experiences they may never again be able to have. My own children have been incredibly blessed by the arts programs in D93 schools.

This presentation shares some of the ways that arts programs benefits students in school and after graduation.

The School Board recognized six D93 students who qualified as National Merit Scholars. To qualify as a National Merit Scholar, students must take the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) during their junior year of high school and fulfill additional requirements, including submitting a detailed application and essay, earning a high GPA, and obtaining strong recommendation.

• Allison John, Thunder Ridge
• Kyle Brown, Thunder Ridge
• Hannah Bohrer, Thunder Ridge
• Gabriella Norris,Thunder Ridge
• Quincy Westover, Bonneville
• Elijah Olsen, Hillcrest
  

Local News 8 recognized Stacey Rogers for the work she and the students and staff at Sandcreek did to raise funds for children in Zambia last month.

In the School Board meeting last night, the Bonneville High School and the Bonneville Online High School student councils presented their achievements.

The Board also recognized the following groups for their outstanding accomplishments:

• Hillcrest High School basketball team, 4A State Championship
• Dave Austin, 4A Coach of the Year
• Hillcrest Scholastic Team: Qualification for Nationals in Washington D.C.

The Board also voted to approve Praxium Mastery Academy as an honors track magnet school. As an honors track, the focus for Praxium will be to provide accelerated, self-paced learning opportunities for students who have shown that they have attained a proficient level of mastery of the Idaho content standards at their grade level.

Most of the growth in our student population has come from families moving into new housing developments. As a result, some elementary schools have experienced rapid growth while other schools have seen a decline in their enrollment. Over the past decade, the Board has approved changes in school boundaries four times to best make use of available classrooms across the District. At times, those boundaries have even included "islands" to bus students away from more crowded schools to schools with available space. As the chart below shows, almost every elementary schools is at its capacity or has exceeded its capacity by adding trailers to the campus. We have also intentionally created available space at Ammon and Falls Valley elementary schools to allow for rapidly growing housing developments in their boundaries.

* The interest rate anticipated on the proposed bond issue is 3.62% per annum. The total amount estimated to be repaid over the life of the bonds, based on the anticipated interest rate, is $37,783,835, consisting of $34,500,000 in principal and $12,273,750 of interest, less $8,989,915 in estimated bond levy equalization payments. The term of the bonds will not exceed seventeen (17) years from the date of issuance. The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the proposed bond levy is a tax of $36 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. As of May 16, 2023, the total existing bonded indebtedness of the District, including interest accrued, is $98,737,850.

The current seat for Zone 1 Trustee is vacant. Any registered voter who resides in Zone 1 is eligible to apply for this vacancy as long as they or their spouse are not employees of the District. Individuals who are interested may apply by completing an online form available at d93.org/1140F.

Zone 1 is the southeast corner of Bonneville School District that includes residents who live in the following areas:

• East of 55th East and south of Lincoln Road
• East of the railroad tracks and south of 1st Street
• East of Ammon Road and south of 17th Street

In this week's edition of D93 News, amazing students from Thunder Ridge, Bonneville, and Hillcrest are honored as the National Merit Scholar Finalists. Bonneville and Rocky Mountain Boosters need your support, A piano giveaway, and an update on a book donation that is off the shelf. All this and more on D93 News.

Join us for another D93 Live with the Superintendent and his team. We will discuss the highlights from the Board meeting and the upcoming Bond. If you have any questions, join us on Monday night at 8:00 p.m. on the district's Facebook page.

Idaho Falls Power supports a variety of educational opportunities to empower today's youth to become tomorrow's leaders.

Each year, Idaho Falls Power sponsors several local high school students at the Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association's (ICUA) annual Youth Rally. The mission of the Youth Rally is to inspire, pique curiosity and help youth develop the leadership qualities they possess. For one week, youth -- representing Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Alaska -- converge in Caldwell, Idaho, at the College of Idaho Campus to participate in a variety of activities and classes to promote positive relationships and build skills in leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and more. Students have a chance to learn more about government, drug and alcohol awareness, business, and the electrical/energy industry. Activities include an obstacle course, dance, talent show, roller skating, volleyball, bowling, swimming at the water park, a tour of the Capitol, and more! It is a week filled with fun, friends, and learning and gives youth the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with other local area students and youths attending the rally.

Those selected to attend will receive a $500 scholarship. Delegates also have the opportunity to earn MORE scholarship money at the week-long rally and to compete to be selected as the Idaho Representative at the NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) National Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. The National Youth Tour expenses are paid by the ICUA.

IFP covers all expenses for students to attend the event. The scholarship program is open to high school sophomores and juniors and whose parent or legal guardian is an Idaho Falls Power utility customer.

Applications are available at local high school counselor's offices, in person at the Idaho Falls Power office at 140 S Capital Avenue, or by CLICKING HERE.

Applications and essays are due by April 15, 2023 to be considered for the July 10-15, 2023 Youth Rally and can be dropped off or mailed to the Idaho Falls Power office or email them to: ifpinfo@ifpower.org, ATTN: ICUA Youth Rally Scholarship Application

Students, parents, and employees can reach out for help with bullying, harassment, suicidal tendencies, self-harm, threats, or to report weapons at school by going to d93.org/gethelp or sending the text @gethelp to 855-528-0074.

Thank you to our community partners at EIRMC for supporting our D93 Family Update.