D91 Employee News:

Over the past two weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to engage with students at two of our high schools to discuss the impact of smartphones and social media on anxiety and depression. As part of our conversation, I shared a CBS News story about an 8th grader from Kansas who traded his smartphone for a flip phone. He found that his grades improved, and he had more time to practice lacrosse and spend quality time with his family.

Students shared their own experiences with smartphones and their reactions to the story. Some expressed that they would feel disconnected from their friends without their phone, while others admitted they struggle with limiting screen time.

Last fall, Governor Little issued an executive order encouraging school districts to implement policies that limit student access to smartphones during instructional time. Currently, the legislature is considering bills that could make such policies mandatory. (SB1032)

In light of this, I asked students for their thoughts on what should be considered if our district were to adopt a smartphone policy. While some students felt a policy isn’t necessary, others acknowledged how much time they spend on their phones. Interestingly, students in classrooms where teachers already require phones to be put away had fewer concerns than those who have unrestricted access. Some students also raised concerns about feeling anxious without their phone or missing an urgent message from home.

Next week, District 91 will launch a staff survey about student cell phone use. Your feedback will be invaluable as we explore what a potential policy might look like for our schools. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and will share the survey results in a future newsletter. Stay tuned!

House Bill 93 (HB 93), recently signed into law by Governor Brad Little on February 27, 2025, establishes the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit. This program provides refundable tax credits to parents or legal guardians who choose to educate their children outside the public school system.

Key Provisions of HB 93:

• Tax Credit Amounts: Eligible families can receive up to $5,000 per child for qualified educational expenses. For students with special needs, the credit increases to $7,500.
• Eligibility Criteria: Priority is given to families with incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, which equates to approximately $77,460 for a family of three in 2024.
• Qualified Expenses: The credits can be used to reimburse expenses such as private school tuition and fees, standardized assessments, textbooks, curriculum, and other educational materials.

As House Bill 93 is implemented, its potential impact on school choice and educational opportunities in Idaho remains a key topic of discussion. As the legislative process continues, District 91 will closely monitor developments and provide updates on how this legislation may affect our schools and community.

At District 91, we are committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement to support both student success and teacher growth. One of the most effective strategies in achieving this goal is through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)—a research-based approach that emphasizes collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and shared responsibility for student learning.

What Are Professional Learning Communities?

PLCs are collaborative teams of educators who work together to analyze student learning, identify challenges, and implement effective instructional strategies. This model shifts the focus from teaching in isolation to working as a team to ensure that all students succeed.

Key PLC Strategies to Support Student Learning & Teacher Development

• A Focus on Learning, Not Just Teaching
• PLCs emphasize what students need to learn, how we will know they’ve learned it, and what to do if they haven’t.
• Teachers collaboratively design assessments and analyze results to guide instruction.
  
  
• Data-Driven Decision Making

• PLCs use common formative assessments to track student progress and adjust teaching strategies in real time.
• Data discussions help identify gaps in learning and provide targeted interventions.
  
  

• Collaborative Culture and Collective Responsibility

• Teachers meet regularly to share best practices, reflect on challenges, and support one another.
• Collaboration fosters professional growth and ensures all students have access to high-quality instruction.
  
  

• A Commitment to Continuous Improvement

• PLCs encourage an ongoing cycle of inquiry: identifying learning needs, implementing strategies, assessing effectiveness, and refining approaches.
• Professional development is embedded in daily practice rather than isolated training sessions.

The Impact of PLCs on Teaching and Learning

Districts that fully implement PLCs see higher student achievement, increased teacher effectiveness, and stronger school communities. When educators collaborate, share expertise, and focus on student-centered strategies, the entire school system benefits.

Looking Ahead

As we continue to strengthen our PLC practices in District 91, we encourage all staff to engage actively in collaboration, embrace data-driven instruction, and support one another in our shared mission to improve student outcomes. Thank you for your dedication to learning and growth!

Protecting your accounts and sensitive information is more important than ever. To enhance security across our district, we are rolling out Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all staff over the next six months.

What is MFA?

MFA adds an extra layer of security to your login process by requiring two forms of verification:

✅ Something you know (your password)
✅ Something you have (a mobile app, text code, or security key)

This additional step significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised.

Why is the District Implementing MFA?

Cyber threats targeting schools are on the rise, and MFA is one of the most effective ways to protect our district’s systems, data, and your personal information. Many organizations, including banks and major companies, have already adopted MFA as a security standard. Now, we are taking proactive steps to ensure our district remains secure.

What to Expect

We are rolling out MFA in phases to ensure a smooth transition for all staff. When it’s your turn to enable MFA on your account, you will receive step-by-step instructions and support from our IT team.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our district’s technology safe and secure. If you have any questions, please reach out to the IT department. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months!

District 91 juniors at Skyline, Idaho Falls High School, Compass Academy, and Emerson will take the SAT on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Parents with questions about the SAT are encouraged to contact their child’s counselor. We remind students that while assessments are important, they are just one measure of student achievement and success.

To accommodate the testing, Wednesday, March 19th, will be an online learning day for 9th, 10th, and 12th graders.

If you need to the send an email to the HR department, please direct those to humanresources@sd91.org.

• Mar 7: End of 2nd Trimester
• Mar 10: Teacher Work Day- No School
• Mar 12-13: Elementary Schools: Parent Teacher Conference
• Mar 13: Elementary Schools: Early Release
• Mar 14: Elementary Schools: On-line Learning Day/Teacher Comp Day
• Mar 14: Secondary Schools: Regular Full School Day with 1 hour early release
• Mar 19: 11th grade: SAT
• Mar 19: 9th, 10th, and 12th grade: On-line Learning Day
• Mar 24-28: Spring Break

The Board of Trustees approved the calendar for the next three years. They are uploaded on our district website here.

Congratulations to the CTEC Automotive Technology Competition Team. All 6 members of the team placed in the top 10 at the BYU-Idaho Competition!

On March 1st, Taylorview Middle School hosted a really great conference for first responders, put on by EIRMC (Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center). We had over 250 first responders show up, and the whole day was packed with awesome classes focused on the EMT side of first response. There were also several keynote speakers who shared some really valuable insights. Overall, it was a fantastic event and a great chance for first responders in our area to learn, connect, and build their skills.

Compass Academy: Evening Custodian-Full-time

Ethel Boyes Elementary: Afternoon/Evening Custodian Full-time

Idaho Falls High School: Special Education Support 1:1 Limited Full-time Para

Longfellow Elementary: Special Education Support, Day Treatment Limited Full-time Para

Longfellow Elementary: Elementary School Secretary-Full-time

Student Services Department: Educational Sign Language Interpreter -Full-time

See all current openings here.