Updates From D91 Supt. LaOrange
August Updates: Week of Aug. 28
From The Supt's Desk:
I am incredibly honored and humbled to serve as the new superintendent of Idaho Falls School District 91. I am a D91 graduate. I started my teaching career here. I served as an assistant principal, principal, and district administrator in D91 before leaving for BYU-Idaho 11 years ago. As a professor at BYU-I, I focused on strong instructional practices that help all students learn. Working with the teachers, staff, parents and the Idaho Falls School District 91 community is now my passion project.
I strongly believe in the power of education to open opportunities for all students. My grandmother was 10 years old when she immigrated from Sweden and moved to Salt Lake City. She had always enjoyed school and looked forward to learning in America. She couldn’t speak the language and didn’t know the culture, so she was placed in a kindergarten class with the understanding that it was her responsibility to catch up with her peers. Although she had few supports, and faced the challenge of learning a new language, she was blessed with teachers who encouraged her, and inspired her, and my grandmother was able to graduate on time.
My grandmother’s experience instilled in me the importance of education. I believe education provides opportunities, expands choices, and changes lives. I am committed to helping every child learn and meet their potential like my grandmother did.
I am grateful for the ongoing support of the Idaho Falls community. I know that as we continue working together, we will provide excellent educational opportunities for our students. I am thrilled to work with you to support our students and teachers and look forward to a great school year!
Meet Some Of D91's New Leadership Team
Kelly Coughenour
Lanell Farmer
Shelly Smede
Late Start Friday Addresses Gaps
Every Friday, all D91 schools start an hour later than normal so teachers can work in Professional Learning Communities and focus on student achievement.
Late Start Friday is part of the district's ongoing efforts to try and ensure all students are successful. In the Professional Learning Communities or PLCs, teachers dig into student data, look at potential gaps in student learning, and discuss ways to address those gaps by changing instruction or offering interventions.
Those PLC discussions are generally focused on four questions: What do we want our students to learn? How will we know if students are learning? How will we respond when students don't learn? How will we extend learning for students who are already proficient?
D91Trustees Plan To Ask Courts To Settle Tax Dispute
The Board of Trustees this summer began planning for a new elementary school on Idaho Falls’ south side financed by the levy D91’s patrons overwhelmingly approved in May. However, the Idaho State Tax Commission has said it will not certify that levy, which will prevent the district from collecting the tax monies needed to pay for the new school.
So, the Board of Trustees this week voted to file a complaint with the courts seeking a declaration of the interpretation of the statutes in question. At the heart of the issue is whether school districts can have two plant facilities levies in place at the same time.
“We are extremely disappointed in the commission’s position and we strongly disagree with its interpretation of the state statues,” said D91 Board Chair Hillary Radcliffe. “We plan to file this complaint because, as board members, we feel we need to do everything we can to protect local control, and to provide students with safe, secure learning environments.”
As the issue works its way through the courts, trustees will continue moving forward with plans for the new elementary school. However, the dispute with the tax commission may delay construction and slow the district’s progress on other critical facilities issues. It also may mean the district will need to go back to patrons and ask for voter support again.
Learn more at www.ifschools.org.
Download The D91 App Today!
No School Monday!
Remember to Fill out Free & Reduced Lunch Applications
Have you filled out your Free & Reduced Lunch application for the 2023-24 School Year? It's easy to do online @ https://linqconnect.com/
Important Dates In September:
- Sept. 1: Late Start Friday! Every Friday, every D91 school starts an hour later than normal so teachers can collaborate on student achievement.
- Sept. 4: Labor Day! All D91 schools & offices will be closed
- Sept. 13: Board Business Meeting, 5:30 pm, IFHS Media Center
- Sept. 15: IFHS Homecoming Parade
- Sept. 22: Emotional Bowl, Ravsten Stadium, 7 pm KickOff
- Sept. 26: Board Work Session, 4 pm, D91 District Office
- Oct. 5-6: No School!, State & District Professional Development
- Oct. 13: Skyline Homecoming Parade
Way To Go, D91 Bus Drivers!
Thank You! Thank You!
We are #D91Proud!
School Board Elections In November, PaperWork Due By Sept. 8
To run for election, candidates must be registered voters in the zone they want to run for and they must collect five signatures from eligible voters in that zone. Learn more about being a school board member. The petition signatures and other paperwork must be reviewed by the Bonneville County Elections office before being submitted to the D91 District Office by 5:00 pm on Friday, Sept. 8. Questions about the election? Call the Bonneville County Elections office at (208) 529-1363.
D91 Improving Safety & Security
Over the last few years, the district has invested millions of dollars installing access control systems in our school buildings. With these systems, schools can keep their doors locked during the school day. Visitors gain access to the building by ringing a doorbell. They are then directed to the office to check in with staff.
The improvements completed this summer added new doors to the four elementary schools so visitors now are routed through the office, rather than having access to the whole school when they enter the building. Similar improvements were made at Skyline High School. Plans also are underway to improve the access controls at Idaho Falls High School.
Thank you to our IT and maintenance staff for all their work on these projects!
Review Of D91's Safety Protocols
As part of our safety planning, schools conduct a number of emergency drills several times a year to help ensure students and staff are prepared in case of an emergency. Sometimes those drills are held in conjunction with local emergency services personnel so don't be alarmed if you see a policy care or a fire struck at a school. Here is a quick review of D91's safety drills:
- Evacuation: Move students in a safe and orderly fashion to an on-site or off-site evacuation area when there is a need to remove students from a school building such as a fire alarm, smoke, gas leak or hazardous conditions.
- Reverse Evacuation: Short-term safety protocol to move students and staff into a school building in case of a threat outside such as a danger on the playground, mountain lion in the neighborhood or law enforcement activity nearby.
- Shelter In Place: Short-term safety protocol to keep students and staff safe from hazardous outside conditions such as an earthquake, toxic chemical spill, etc.
- Hall Check: Secure the building and protect students, staff and visitors from external threats such as a suspicious person or object nearby or police action in the neighborhood or to minimize hallway traffic due to a medical emergency or law enforcement activity in the building. Students remain in their classroom, but learning activities and school business continues as normal.
- Lock Down: Protect students and staff when the threat is inside the building such as an armed intruder or outbreak of violence within the school. Safety and survival is the priority and teachers should be prepared to lead without prompts if they become aware of unsafe situations.
Whenever a school conducts a drill or experiences an emergency situation, the district will text parents and provide updates as information becomes available. To receive these texts, parents should make sure their contact information is current in PowerSchool. Questions? Check with your school or pick up D91's School Safety Protocol flyer at your school.
We've Got Sports!
Find Your Bus Stop!
Mark Your Calendar!
Parents: Take Care of Yourselves!
Overwhelmed with the start of school? D91 is proud to partner with parentguidance.org to provide parents with FREE resources to help with the day-to-day struggles of parenting.
Resources include: "Ask The Therapist," one-on-one parent coaching and online courses on topics like how digital media is changing our children's mental health, parenting with a purpose, etc. Parent Guidance's August Newsletter focuses on helping parents nurture their mental health so they can empower their children. Learn more at parentguidance.org.