Emmett School District Newsletter

We have had a busy summer completing some major projects to improve our school buildings and learning environments. Here are some of the projects we’ve accomplished.

Carberry got a new roof! This project was funded through the May 2023 Levy and completed by Munger Construction! Thank you so much to our wonderful community who supported this effort! Doesn’t it look beautiful! Next summer, it will be Shadow Butte's turn for a new roof!

Two sets of EMS restrooms were completely remodeled! This project was funded through the ESD general fund, as allocated in the 2022-2023 budget. The project was completed by Wright Brothers Construction. Check out the before and after pics! We are so proud!

The three modulars at the Butte View campus were updated to provide classroom space. Funding was allocated from the 2022-2023 general fund, and the project was completed by Wright Brothers Construction. For this school year, the modulars will be used for the ESD developmental preschool and for the Little Huskies preschool. We are thrilled that these spaces are now safe and usable for students now and in the future.

Security Doors

We have been working hard to make our schools and procedures safer for students. All of our schools are now equipped with front locking doors with key card entry. To enter our schools during school hours, you must ring the doorbell, and an office member will answer to let you in as needed. This is a wonderful addition to our safety plan to ensure our buildings are secure to allow for our students to learn safely.

School Safe ID Kiosks

We are excited to be implementing a new visitor check-in system at many of our schools that will be both easy to use and enhance the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. School Safe ID will require all visitors to present a valid state-issued ID. The system will compare the visitor’s name and date of birth to the national database of registered sex offenders.

School Safe ID will be managed through a kiosk in the front office. Visitors must scan their valid state-issued ID, and once approved, the visitor will be issued a badge that identifies his or her name and purpose for visiting the school. The system will only record the visitor’s name and date of birth. No additional date from the license will be entered into the system. Should a visitor not have a valid state-issued ID, he or she will not be permitted to enter the school without an escort. Visitors will not need to use the system should they simply need to drop off something in the main office.

School Safe ID was funded for our schools from the Secure Our Future state grant that provided money to each school in the district to assist in specific areas, including safety and security upgrades.

Why It Matters:

Besides providing daily meals to ensure students have the nutrition they need to learn, this program does so much more. It helps us secure federal funding for vital roles in education and opens doors to grants that benefit our schools and community.

The History:

Pre-Covid, 50.9% of our students received free/reduced lunch benefits (May 2019). During the pandemic, all kids got free lunches. But now, those measures have ended, and applying again is necessary. Last year's numbers totaled only 40.8% (May 2023).

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The Impact Today:

The drop from 50.9% to 40.8% affects us in many ways. It's led to lost grants and staffing positions that benefit ALL students. Paraprofessionals play a crucial role in education for every student. The numbers also signal that families and students who could qualify for assistance are not receiving the benefits they need. By applying, you help ensure quality staffing and quality education for everyone.

Why We Need You:

Sadly, the recent numbers are not an accurate reflection of our demographics. Our area has not become more affluent since Covid. However, if families don’t fill out the application, lower numbers give the impression that assistance is not needed. This hinders us from accessing benefits, funding, and grants designed for communities like ours. If your family qualifies, please apply! Your application matters!

How to Fill Out:

You can grab a copy of the application at the district office or any of our schools. Alternatively, if you prefer digital convenience, check out this link: https://www.emmettschools.org/Page/42. You'll find a PDF you can print or detailed instructions on filling it out online through Infinite Campus. We've got options for everyone!

Online Free/Reduced Application and Info

The Emmett School District board is composed of six trustees elected by the public. These are volunteer positions receiving no monetary compensation but fulfilling a vital role that impacts so many. Three of these ESD school board seats are up for election this November.

We deeply appreciate the selfless service of our school board trustees. Serving on the school board is a rewarding volunteer position, as it allows you to contribute directly to the growth and development of our schools and students. If you have a passion for education and a genuine interest in the well-being of our students, we encourage you to consider running for the Emmett School District school board.

The process to become a candidate is simple! Paperwork for candidacy can be obtained at the Emmett School District office--119 N. Wardwell. If interested, please see Angela Mattingly (District Secretary and Clerk of the Board). She is your contact to answer any questions and accept the paperwork when completed. It's a simple process, but the deadline to submit the required paperwork is September 8.

Election day is set for November 7, when our community will cast their votes and decide who will be entrusted with shaping the future of education in our district. We encourage all of our patrons to be involved in the election process. Our cooperation ensures a bright future for our students and schools.

Recently, ESD learned that the anticipated amount to be applied to our single $1,000,000 levy is $887,110.36. That leaves $112,889.64 to be funded for this year through Gem County property taxes. The district has not yet received final numbers as to what the new, reduced cost to individual Gem County homeowners for this year will be. It is anticipated to be significantly less than the estimate when the levy was passed. Please note that we do not know what state funds may be applied next year. These funds are solely applied to the levy this year.

When the district receives the new homeowner cost estimates, we will happily inform the public. We are so thankful to our community for voting to provide funds for necessities in our school district, and we are excited to announce that the direct property tax burden on our community members will be significantly less than anticipated.

ESD is working to provide open transparency with the public regarding the funds allocated from the May 2023 Supplemental Levy. In each monthly budget report, there is a section assigned for levy reporting. In the report from the August regular school board meeting, you will find the levy accounting on page 24 at the link below. In the report, you can see exactly what levy funds were received and how they were spent. Please note, the numbers are continuously running, not project totals. For instance, the Carberry roof project came in under the projected budget, but the bills had not yet been finalized and paid as of the August board meeting.

July '23 Monthly Budget Report Showing Levy Accounting

Our transportation team has been awarded the prestigious Spot Inspection of the Year Award! This recognition is a testament to their dedication and hard work in keeping our students safe and getting them to school every day.

This award is a BIG DEAL! This is the first time since 2005 that we have been recipients! It's a clear reflection of the exceptional efforts poured into every aspect of our transportation program.

Yay for our school counselors!

We also wanted to give a shout out to our outstanding school counselors. Here is some high praise shared by a parent on social media, recounting her experience with the Middle School Counselors during Open House.

“Honestly I was amazed at the ability of the counselors to help so many kids adjust their schedules yesterday (they were doing this BY HAND!-no computers!!) They were polite, fast, and as accommodating as possible to my rather-dramatic teenager and her friends. I know there will still be things to fix of course, but those counselors certainly went at this with a positive attitude and clear instructions on what would happen next, and that’s is really all I could ask for as a parent. Thank you so much!!”

Congratulations to our EHS Boys Soccer Team!

They won! They won! Reporting a single win might not seem a big deal, but it is a HUGE deal for the EHS boys soccer team. It’s been a long time coming. The last time EHS boys soccer won a game was 2020. They’ve played two complete seasons with no wins That’s approximately 35 straight losses. But on August 28, they bested Four Rivers to finally achieve that elusive win!

Sometimes, we celebrate the great accomplishments of our students and athletes. Sometimes, we celebrate the amazing perseverance. Sometimes, we get to celebrate both.

Congratulations to our boys soccer players and their coach, Carlos Alvarado. We are so proud of their win, but we are even more proud of the dedication and hard work that persevered to get there. Those skills are ones that will serve them in a lifetime of success!

Please Note:

If you have noticed anyone in our district–staff OR student, going above and beyond, please let us know! We’d love to give them a shout out!

We are hosting a public meeting for input regarding our Covid reopening plan, Continuous Improvement Plan, and Policies 2140-2140, which address surveys and privacy related to the handling of information. The meeting will be August 31, from 4:30-6:00 at the Butte View Complex. All are welcome!

Homecoming week is September September 18-22. On the schedule is the Homecoming Parade Friday, September 22, at noon. The parade follows Main Street, ending at the park. Also make sure you come for the Friday night Homecoming game when our Emmett Huskies take on Twin Falls at 7:00. Homecoming is a community event! We can’t wait to share our Huskie Pride!

August 31: 4:30-5:30 Butte View Complex: Public meeting

September 1: First early out Friday

September 4: Labor Day (No School)

September 8: Last day to turn in paperwork to run for ESD school board

September 18-22: Homecoming week

September 22: 12:00 Parade, 7:00 Homecoming game

October 6: Staff Professional Development (No School)

October 13: End of 1st Quarter

Find the complete calendars by clicking on this link and looking at the top left.

Our district Facebook and Instagram pages are active with lots of information. If you haven’t already, please connect with us through those platforms.

As always, our doors are always open to communication, suggestions, and feedback. Please feel free to call and make an appointment with any of our district admin. We also have open door office hours available for anyone to drop by the district office from 2:00-3:00 on the Wednesday following a school board meeting.

You can also always email any questions to info@isd221.net.For other contact links, see below!