November has been an exceptionally busy month, and it seems that more often than not, my wife and kids get to see me for about an hour each evening. I cannot express enough appreciation to them for their understanding and support with all of the demands that come with this job. I could not do this job without their patient and understanding support.

D93 is blessed with an incredible Board of Trustees. Each of our Board members spends many unpaid hours each month working to support our schools. Last week, they traveled to Boise to participate in the annual Idaho School Boards Association convention where they engaged in professional learning and collaboration to support our schools. They help us to work through the inevitable challenges and difficult decisions that we have to make. And most importantly, they love our students, our schools, and our community and strive to make decisions always have the best interests of our students foremost.

This year, we will be able to provide Thanksgiving Dinners for more than 100 families in need in our school district thanks to the generous donations of members of our community. If anyone would like to contribute to this effort, see the information below.

This Thanksgiving season, we invite our community to come together and help support families in need by contributing to our Thanksgiving Dinner Boxes. Your donations will provide a full holiday meal for those who may otherwise go without. Let’s share the warmth and joy of the season by making sure every family can enjoy a special meal together. Thank you for any support you can give to help make Thanksgiving brighter for all.

Reminder: No School on November 18th.

Thank you for taking the time to participate in the District Calendar survey! We’re excited to share that the Board has approved the school calendars for the next three years. Here are a few highlights:

• Teacher Collaboration for Elementary: Scheduled on the 2nd and 4th Mondays each month.
• Spring Break: Set for the fourth Monday in March.
• November Election Day: This day will be a holiday for students and a dedicated collaboration day for teachers.

To view the full calendars, please click the links below. Thank you again for your input and support!

NOTE: The calendars on the website have not been updated. The links below are the approved calendars and will be added to our website shortly.

Tis the season to be thinking about emergency closures. While we monitor forecasts regularly for potential situations that could cause schools to close, we have learned to not make decisions for emergency closures based solely on forecasted weather conditions. Instead, there are several district employees who begin driving roads between 4:30 and 5:00 am to evaluate the conditions of our roads and the outside temperatures.

When we experience difficult weather conditions, we have a conference call around 5:30 am to evaluate conditions across the District and decide whether or not to close schools. If we decide to close schools, we will send a message home to families as a text, email, and phone call. We will also post the information on our school web pages and social media channels, and notify the media. Our goal is to communicate this information by 6:00 am.

Our cold weather policy states that we will have outdoor recess as long as temperatures remain above zero degrees Fahrenheit. We also consider the wind chill when deciding whether to hold indoor recess. Because few of our elementary schools have dedicated gym space, indoor recess presents its own set of unique challenges for students and teachers. Please be sure to send your children with gloves and hats and warm coats to be ready for the cold temperatures. If your children do not have warm outdoor clothing, please let your school's counselor know so that we can find community resources to help.

Last night during the Regular Board meeting. The Board recognized Justin Anderson, a junior at Thunder Ridge High School. Justin has made history as the first-ever golf champion from Thunder Ridge High School! A dedicated 4.0 student and an incredible athlete, Justin's skill and hard work shone through over two days of intense 18-hole rounds. On Day 1, he held strong, finishing even par and securing 3rd place. But on Day 2, he was unstoppable—every shot was precise, and he dominated the back nine, finishing at -9 with an Eagle and a Birdie to claim the title. His final putt sealed the deal, making him the first 6A state champion in Idaho, winning by a remarkable 5 strokes. Justin expressed deep gratitude to his parents, coaches, and friends, whose support was instrumental in his journey.

Following last week's Executive Order 2024-11, which encourages school district and charter school boards to adopt policies on cell phone usage in schools. we asked our families and employees to share your thoughts on this issue. We received more than 3,00 responses. Jason Lords the Executive Director of Learning and Instruction reviewed the results with the Board, categorizing responses by parents, employees, and parent-employees, as well as classified and certified groups. While there is strong support for restrictions, specific measures are yet to be determined. Mr. Lords reviewed the current policy and requested authorization from the Board to form an advisory committee to review Policy 3265 Student Owned Electronic Communication Devices.

As we put together an advisory committee to review and update our policy, we would love to hear your thoughts personal communication devices in schools. You can still share your thoughts on our current cell phone policy by clicking the button below.

Heath Jackson, Director of Planning and Personnel, presented a report on enrollment trends and building capacities. He reviewed current enrollment numbers across the district, noting steady enrollment in most schools, with some declines in specific areas like kindergarten and high school. Mr. Jackson discussed the challenges posed by open enrollment under new state laws, emphasizing the need for annual reviews and capacity assessments, particularly in schools with specialized programs. As he highlighted growth projections, he identified areas with potential capacity strain, such as Rimrock and Discovery, due to residential developments. He proposed monitoring these trends closely as the district plans for future boundary adjustments and the opening of a new elementary school.

The Board of Trustees of the Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 is considering the adoption/revision of the following District policies. As patrons of our District, your review and input is greatly appreciated. Please take this opportunity to review these changes under consideration and send your comments to: Becky Buddenbohm, Policy Coordinator. It is important that we receive your input by the closing date.

Policies Approved for Public Review

• Policy 2180 Flag Displays
• Policy 4240 Professional Conduct
• Policy 2340 Controversial Issues and Academic Freedom
• Policy 8415 Child Nutrition Meal Charges

Policy Adopted into Board Policy

• Policy 3540 Providing Health Care
• Policy 4165 Parental Involvement in Schools

🎉 Welcome to D93 News, brought to you by Idaho Farm Bureau! 🌟 With Daylight Savings Time ending, we get earlier sunsets, perfect for stargazing 🌠—and Bonneville Online High School is ready to make the most of it with their new telescope! They're planning two exciting star-gazing events each year, in the spring and fall.

In other news, we’re spotlighting a tradition near and dear to D93 News—the annual choir clinic invitational at Rocky Mountain Middle School! 🎶 Ms. Butikofer and her team have worked tirelessly to revive this event post-COVID, and they’d love your support! Join them for a beautiful concert this Friday at 5:30 PM in the Rocky Mountain Middle School auditorium, featuring a guest conductor from BYU-Idaho. 🎤

And now, stay tuned for our EIRMC Health Minute presented by Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center! #D93News #Stargazing #ChoirClinic #D93Traditions

On this week’s episode of the We Are D93 podcast, Lori sits down with Ucon Elementary Principal John Murdoch, a true community hero and longtime member of the Idaho National Guard. 🇺🇸 John joined the Guard back in 1991 and has been faithfully serving our country ever since. Listen in as he shares insights on balancing his role as a principal with his ongoing commitment to the National Guard, his journey over the years, and the values he brings to D93 every day. You won’t want to miss this inspiring conversation! #WeAreD93 #CommunityHeroes #IdahoNationalGuard

🌟 Congratulations to Brandi Johnson, our Rusty Taco Extra Mile Award winner! 🌟 Brandi goes above and beyond in her role as a SPED para, PTO member, and summer library worker at Ammon Elementary—if there’s something that needs to be done, Brandi is there! Her caring attitude makes everyone feel included and valued, creating a safe, connected, and supportive environment for all. Brandi, thank you for being an incredible example of dedication and kindness. We are so grateful for you! #D93ExtraMile #WeAreD93

The D93 Extra Mile Award celebrates those whose hard work and positive attitudes make a significant impact on our students, staff, and community. Thanks to our amazing friends at Rusty Taco, we’ll be recognizing those who go above and beyond with this special award! 🌮🙌

In next week's newsletter, we will catch up with a number of our outstanding employees who have been recognized for going the extra mile.

Communities across the country are battling the fentanyl epidemic, and our community is no different. I’m sure your SRO’s, teachers, staff, and families can attest to the impacts of this epidemic. To give our community the information they need to try and make a difference in this fight, the City of Idaho Falls is planning a special community Town Hall on Fentanyl from 6:30 pm to 8 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Taylorview Middle School. The Town Hall will include a presentation from U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, along with panel discussions with local law enforcement officials and local healthcare and recovery experts. Community partners will also be on hand to share resources.

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