Eleven Idaho School District’s were awarded $2 million by the State Department of Education to boost student achievement. On behalf of the School Board members, Administration, Faculty, Students and myself, the School Board members and I want to publicly thank our Middleton team who worked diligently on the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. Our Office received a personal phone call from Matt McCarter, SDE Coordinator of Safe & Drug Free Schools, congratulating us on our $278,049 (first year) grant award. The next day, I received the State Department letter confirming that this award will be available to us (annually) over a five-year time-period:

Years 1 through 3 will be at the amount of the original award for a total of $834,147. Year 4 will be at 90% of the original award for a total of $250,244. Year 5 will be at 80% of the original award for a total of $222,439. The total funding from the grant will be $1,306,830.

All Middleton schools have been involved in reform and restructuring efforts in order to improve curriculum, instruction and assessment for all students. While we have been working determinedly to help all students achieve at the highest levels possible, it has not been enough. We are still struggling to meet state and federal standards in several areas as well as to effectively address other social and behavioral needs. Middleton Heights Elementary, Middleton Middle School, Middleton Academy and Middleton High School are teaming together to tackle these areas of weakness which are documented in this grant application.

Our overarching outcomes for this project include improved reading, language arts, and math scores; improved interactions between the school, students, parents and the community; reduced number of unsupervised students in the afternoons and evenings; and increased numbers of students and parents participating in extracurricular activities. The components of this proposed 21st Century Community Learning Center will result in significant, positive outcomes for our students, staff and parents.

All four schools have laid the proper foundation to prepare for the addition of a comprehensive after-school program that is essential to ensure higher levels of achievement and success for all our students. We believe, as 21st Century Community Learning Center Schools, we will be able to take the achievement of our students who are most at risk to the next level.

These funds will help fund and all-day extended Kindergarten program at Heights Elementary. This program will reinforce the classroom learning using the following methods: Increased reading instruction, Brain Gym activities, developmental games to increase language and social skills, computer access, Waterford computer and HANDS program (improved cutting and writing skills).

At the secondary level this funding will provide additional opportunities for learning through the Plato program, Accelerated Math, Tutoring, IDLA Credit Recovery, LEP Assistance and Hands-On Enrichment (cooking, science experiments, educational games, Mana, Leadership 1st, arts, crafts, book club, creative writing, drama, muse, computers, etc.) during an after school program.

We are excited to be able to offer these new learning opportunities to our students at Heights and the secondary schools. If you would like more information on this grant, please call Molly Burger at the Middle School.

Question: 1 - How will passing of this bond affect my school property taxes?
Answer: - It will not increase your school tax rate.

Our School Board has been proactive on the behalf of the taxpayers, which will allow us to maintain a $4.45 School District tax rate (2006 & 2007) per $1,000 of property value, as explained in this paragraph. The high school bond proposal will pay for the design, construction labor, materials, permits, fees, equipment and all other necessary project costs. In order to generate this amount of capital (money) without raising the school tax rate, the $51.9 million bond will amortize (pay back) over 20 years or less, which in today’s bond market will ensure a very competitive interest rate. The new bonds will be structured around the District’s existing bond and will not increase the school tax rate. This non-increase in the school tax rate is due to: The retirement of an existing bond, refunding of existing bonds, increased market value, approximately $17.4 million of state subsidy payments (financial support -- which we will receive from the Idaho School Bond Levy Equalization Program), defeasance of existing bond funds, along with the use of available debt revenue. If the bond were not to pass, the School Board plans to maintain the current $4.45 School District tax rate per $1,000 of property value to allow for earlier payoff of our current bonds. Your property taxes could increase as a result of a reassessment of your property, but not due to an increase in the District’s tax rate.

Question: 2 - Why was this particular location chosen?
Answer: - Safety of the students.

The location for the new high school (on the southeast corner of Emmett and Willis Roads) was selected primarily for the safety of our high school students. By locating the high school out of town, we will be able to close the campus and lessen the downtown traffic for vehicles and pedestrians. The City and School District will both benefit from the change in location of our high school. The School Board members considered several sites and found this one to be the best location for the high school as it allows ample space for the 60-acre campus and adequate access (six vehicular entries and exits) for traffic at the high school site. Ensuring the best use of taxpayer dollars for this purchase was also a consideration of the School Board. The cost of this site was well below other sites that were reviewed.


Question: 3 - Is the square footage of the new high school too large?
Answer: - No it is not.

At 86% utilization the capacity of the proposed new high school is 1,500 students and at 100% utilization the capacity is 1,700 students. Student enrollment has been projected through the school year 2017 –2018 based on historical data and projected growth. Utilizing this information, we believe the capacity of 1,500 students will allow ample space for enrollment growth and give us at least a ten-year solution for ample classroom space.

Question: 4 - Why are we converting the current rebuilt high school to a middle school?
Answer: - To avoid overcrowding at all secondary grade levels.

The rebuilt High School facility is too small to hold the amount of high school students we currently have enrolled. It will adequately house 725 students and we have over 850 students this year. By utilizing the three buildings (rebuilt high school, high school English wing and the current Middle School) the 6-8 grade students will have adequate educational facilities. The School District has a ten-year facility plan in place that is based on enrollment growth projections at all grade levels, full utilization of our current facilities and projections for the need of additional facilities. Our ten-year plan indicates that the opening of this new high school and the conversion of the current high school to a middle school will provide ample classroom space (utilizing all buildings) for our secondary students (grades 6-12) through the year 2020-21.

Middleton School District offers preschool services for children who experience delays in speech, language, motor skills, and social or emotional skills.

If you have a concern about your preschooler and would like him or her screened free of charge, call and schedule an appointment. The screening takes about 45 minutes to complete and will include a brief review of the results with the parents.

Screenings will be held by appointment only on Thursday, August 21st , and Friday, August 22nd , at Purple Sage Elementary. Contact: before August 19th, Elaine Keogh at 585-3027, after August 19th, call Carol at 455-1148 for an appointment.

Child should be 3 years of age before screening date.