Boise School District Dedicates

Dallas Harris Elementary School

Boise, ID -- 04/30/2024 -- Boise School District officially dedicated Dallas Harris Elementary School on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. The school was made possible thanks to voters who passed the 2017 bond election and the Harris Family who donated the land upon which the school was built.

The school, located in southeast Boise, provides students with a high-quality student-centered learning experience led by some of the highest qualified staff in the state of Idaho. The dedication ceremony featured a ribbon cutting ceremony and a check donation in the amount of $100,000 to the school by the Harris Family.

District officials said the state-of-the-art learning facility will cater to the educational needs of students and families in the rapidly growing southeast area of Boise for many years to come.

"Dallas Harris Elementary School is not just a place of learning, but a community asset that symbolizes our dedication to fostering thriving neighborhoods," said Dave Wagers, president, Boise School Board. "It stands as a beacon of our commitment to providing quality education and opportunities for growth. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the taxpayers and Harris Family members whose support has made this dream a reality."

"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the voters who supported and passed the bond election, and are immensely thankful to the Harris family for their generous donation of the land on which the school now stands," said Coby Dennis, superintendent, Boise School District. Your collective contributions have been instrumental in making this project a reality, and we are truly appreciative of the support from the community."

The ceremony featured a western and rancher theme in honor of Dallas Harris.

Beef cattle and Appaloosa horses became the interest of Dallas after the sale of Harris Brothers Sawmill and, consequently, he began to acquire farmland in the Barber Valley. Dallas loved to work with the cattle and horses on the ranch and competed in many “cow cutting” events and horse shows in the Northwest, acquiring many ribbons and trophies. In the 1950’s, Dallas and Alta Harris founded their ranch based on their values: stewardship, preservation, and quality of life—values that endure today.

The Harris Family made a $100,000 donation to Dallas Harris Elementary School during the school's dedication ceremony that was held on April 30, 2024. Pictured L to R: Wendi Forrey, principal, Dallas Harris Elementary School; Doug Fowler, president, Barber Valley Development; Millie Davis (daughter of Dallas Harris); Felicia Burkhalter (daughter of Dallas Harris); Randy Harris (son of Dallas Harris); and Dave Wagers, president, Boise School Board.

Dallas Harris Elementary School students, staff members, Boise School District officials, and Harris Family members helped cut the ribbon officially dedicating Dallas Harris Elementary School on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

ABOUT BOISE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Boise School District is a high-performing, nationally-recognized, comprehensive public school system committed to academic excellence, student well-being, and preparing students for success in college, career and citizenship. With a diverse range of programs and a dedicated team of educators, Boise School District strives to empower every student to reach their full potential.

Boise School District serves approximately 22,400 students and employs 4,300 people, of whom 1,700 are certified staff. In the district, there are 33 elementary schools, 8 junior high schools, and 5 senior high schools. We offer a variety of specialized programs, from Montessori, Dual Language, Full-Day and Highly Gifted programs at elementary, District-wide Full-Day Kindergarten, to the Treasure Valley Math and Science Center, Dennis Career & Technical Center, and the state’s preeminent Advanced Placement program at the secondary level. Boise Schools offer the educational access and experience students need to be successful.

The results are impressive:

• Boise, Borah, Capital and Timberline High Schools recognized as being among our nation’s top high schools by U.S. News & World Reports and Jay Mathews High School Challenge Index (formerly known as the the Newsweek & Washington Post list of America’s Most Challenging High Schools).
• Our students outperform Idaho and the nation on standardized tests, college entrance exams and Advanced Placement testing.
• Our college-going rate (73%) is one of the highest in the state and exceeds the state.
• More National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalists than any other District in the state.
• Nationally recognized music program.
• Nationally recognized career and technical education program.
• Nationally accredited AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Demonstration School.
• Some of the state's highest performing elementary & secondary schools.
• Countless statewide and national recognitions for individual schools, students and staff.
• 25 Advanced Placement course offerings, providing thousands of secondary students with rigorous and relevant coursework to prepare them for college and career success.
• Committed to preparing students for success in college, career and in life. 
• High quality teaching staff - 75% of our teachers hold a Master’s Degree; and almost 50% of our teachers have 11 years of experience or more.  



Discover how Boise School District is Educating Today for a Better Tomorrow at www.boiseschools.org

News Media Contact:

Dan Hollar

Public Affairs Administrator

Boise School District

(208) 854-4042 (o)

(208) 890-8309 (c)

dan.hollar@boiseschools.org

www.boiseschools.org

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