After experiencing unprecedented financial and leadership turmoil, the West Bonner School Board this week decided to close the school and elect a new superintendent.
The board of trustees voted unanimously to close Priest River Middle School during a five-hour special meeting Wednesday. This was a controversial decision, highlighting the concerns, opinions and support of vocal parents, supporters and staff.
It is one of two major changes planned for the troubled area.
The board on Tuesday offered the superintendent position to Kim Spacek, currently a leader in the Mountain View School District. own struggle. Spacek's contract was there not renewed.
If Spacek accepts, he will replace interim Superintendent Joe Kren. The subsequent fiasco When Branden Durst briefly became a local leader.
In closing its middle school, the West Bonner School District joins other districts in the state. Coeur d'Alene, Nampaand Caldwell— Schools closed due to budget constraints.
School leaders across the state have faced financial challenges due to declining enrollment, expiring pandemic funds and overwhelming maintenance needs. In some areas, such as Caldwell and West Bonner. charge failure Budget issues have become more complex.
Closing the middle school would result in minimal cost savings, Kren said. Meanwhile, “we barely have a month’s bill left in the bank.”
District Finance Director Dean Davis said West Bonner will see $2.89 million less in federal and state dollars in 2025 compared to 2024. The board requested a $4.6 million levy over two years in May, but it was rejected by a 54% vote. I am against it.
After the district covers lost revenue, its budget will be just over $1 million. “I barely have a month’s bill left in the bank,” Kren told EdNews.
This leaves the district in an uncomfortable financial position without much room to maneuver if an emergency arises, Kren said. that much Association of Government Financial Managers recommends having 15% of the overall budget in reserves at any time, which would be $1.6 million for West Bonner.
Closing the middle school would result in “minimal cost savings,” Kren said. One reason for this is that schools still need to be heated and maintained to prevent damage.
“In North Idaho, you can’t have a building sitting dormant in the winter,” said Ryan Curruth, West Bonner’s director of operations.
When asked why close schools if cost savings don't make sense, Kren said, “That's a good question for the board.”
A call to board chair Margaret Hall Thursday for comment was not immediately returned.
Davis confirmed in an email Thursday that the school closure would save money. $876,900.
“Closing one school is better than not closing one school at all,” Davis told the board at one point during Wednesday’s meeting. He said the middle school costs more to operate than any other school, and “we know there are risks there because it's so far from where emergencies like boilers occur.”
Carruth said the building was “a bit of a curse” and Hall called it an “albatross.”
Ultimately, the board unanimously voted to close the middle school, but kept the heat on, with seventh- and eighth-grade students moving to Priest River Lamanna High School but separated from older students by learning in designated areas of the school.
Kren said it will essentially be a “school within a school.”
Important decisions have been made based on passionate testimony from parents, staff and supporters.
Elementary schools are the “heart and soul” of their communities
Located in rural Idaho, the West Bonner School District consists of five schools – three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school – and several communities, including Priest River, Priest Lake, and Oldtown (in Idaho, but essentially suburban). there is. (Located in Newport, Washington).
Each community has an elementary school, at some point, trustees considered closing one or more elementary schools. On Wednesday, customers were fighting to keep the doors open.
“(Priest Lake Elementary) is the heart and soul of the Priest Lake community.” Desi Benedict. “I fear that if you take that away from our young community, all our young families will be forced to move.”
She said West Bonner 4 days a week. “I can’t imagine how tired he must be when he takes the bus at 6:30 a.m. and doesn’t get home until 5 or later.”
Benedict proposed placing grades K-8 in elementary schools and closing middle schools.
Ken Hagman, a lifelong Priest Lake resident, said closing the elementary school there “will alienate a lot of people from the lake.”
“I can assure you without a doubt that you will probably forget about the levy in our constituency. “It will be rejected,” he said.
However, keeping the elementary school as is meant bringing middle school and high school students together, which parents also opposed.
Everyone is talking about “how are we going to get our kids out if we have to take a long bus ride,” said Executive Director Anne Yount. She said: “We have also heard from parents of sixth-graders who will be homeschooling their children rather than sending them to joint high schools. So they have strong feelings about that too, so it’s a weighing and measuring game.”
Hailey Scott sympathized with the board's difficult decision. “It’s really frustrating to hear sad people lamenting the loss of our school. But you… you don’t have too much money to make everyone happy with your decisions… so just realize that and know that there are people who support you.”
Dana Douglas asked the board to impose another levy in November and chastised community members for not supporting the request in May. “We came here because we couldn’t get to the polls to vote, and this sucks,” she said.
Next steps: fundraising and November levy discussions
The board decided to keep sixth-graders in the elementary school, move seventh- and eighth-graders to the high school and close the middle school. This is a one-year temporary measure that the board must review after the upcoming school year.
There was talk at the meeting of imposing another levy, but Kren pointed out that the deadline for a decision is Sept. 6, so trustees will have to move quickly if they decide to go back to voters.
School leaders again on Wednesday Started It is a series of efforts to strengthen the district's finances through fundraising and donations. Here's what's included:
- Assist groups in raising funds for extra-curricular and co-curricular activities for the upcoming school year.
- Start donating to the Earth
- Seeking additional funding from the community
Kren told EdNews that while the district has experienced “turmoil and change and upheaval,” “it doesn't matter what happens to the educators.” We have to make it happen. We need to succeed for our students.”
The district's next meeting will be a special budget hearing on June 12.