THE SUMMIT

ELEVATING EDUCATION AT BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Superintendent Jim Foudy and Board Vice Chair Dan Turner spoke with KMTV7 on July 30 about the funding shortfall.

KTVB7 Video Blaine County School District seeks $3.85M levy to help cover budget shortfall

November Supplemental Levy

On July 21, Blaine County School District trustees and administrators met for over six hours at the Wood River High School library to address a significant funding shortfall facing the district.

The shortfall stems from several converging challenges: Idaho's chronic underfunding of public education (ranking 51st in the nation in per-student spending), declining birth rates, rising operational costs, and the reduced purchasing power of tax revenue due to inflation.

In response, the school board is implementing a multi-faceted strategy that includes reducing staff through attrition, consolidating programs and facilities, improving student attendance, and pursuing additional revenue through local levies.

As part of this approach, the board approved running a two-year, $3.85 million per year supplemental levy on the November ballot. The estimated cost to homeowners will be less than $16.33 per year per $100,000 of assessed value.

“When students felt successful in SummerBridge, it increased their self-esteem and their positive attitude toward school. We had parents share that they usually struggle to get their child out of bed for school—but that wasn’t the case this summer.”

SummerBridge Director Kiley Hoefer

SummerBridge 2025: A Powerful Partnership for Student Success

This summer, approximately 280 elementary students participated in the SummerBridge program at Alturas Elementary School, held from June 23 to July 25. SummerBridge is powered by a dynamic coalition that includes the Blaine County School District, Wood River YMCA, College of Idaho, Sun Valley Community School, Lee Pesky Learning Center, and Far + Wise, along with a wide network of generous community supporters.

The program strikes a unique balance between academic enrichment and the energy of a summer camp. Each week blends reading and math instruction with hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, art, and a nationally recognized social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum. Students explored everything from a planetarium to local lakes and ice caves. Every Friday was devoted to experiential learning throughout the Wood River Valley, sparking curiosity and building confidence through outdoor adventure.

Students were nominated by their teachers based on academic need and invited to attend free of charge. Families met with educators ahead of time to reinforce the importance of attendance and engagement, ensuring that students most at risk received full support.

Read more...

Click on the video below to learn about Alturas Elementary's Dual Immersion program:

Two recent Wood River High School graduates from the Dual Immersion program shared their future plans with Wood River Weekly reporter, Mark Dee:

Wood River Weekly Brett Poggi’s Curiosity Takes Flight

Wood River Weekly Leila Brickley Gets Creative

Hailey senior Ella Shaughnessy is one of only 1,200 midshipmen invited to join the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

After Graduation, 'Anchors Aweigh'

For Annapolis-bound Ella Shaughnessy, Service Runs in the Family

by Mark Dee, Wood River Weekly

On May 21, Air Force Veteran Mike Vigueria took the stage at Wood River High School’s Scholarship Night to award what was, in its way, the largest prize of the night. Vigueria said that the strength of United States’ military is its people—it’s the world’s best because they’re the world’s best—and that it finds them all over, in big cities, and in small towns, and in places like the Wood River Valley. Then, he called one such person to the podium.

Hailey senior Ella Shaughnessy stood up and took from his hand a folder with at least the next nine years of her life inside: her appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Read more...

The Carey High School roof is being upgraded from a TPO membrane that has leaked over the years. The solar panels are being lifted and the new membrane installed underneath.

Photo courtesy of Shawn Bennion

Summers are a busy time for the BCSD facilities team

The dedicated employees of the Buildings and Grounds Department maintain Blaine County School District's facilities to ensure the comfort and safety of students, staff and visitors. 

In August 2022, voters in the Blaine County approved a Plant Facilities Levy, allowing the district to move forward with a number of key facility improvement projects. These projects cover improving, maintaining, and repairing existing buildings, including roof repairs and replacements. They also include furnishing and equipping buildings, safety and security improvements, LED lighting, and updates to mechanical systems, appliances, technology, and heating, ventilation, and sanitation facilities.

These much-needed projects will touch every single building in our district, while giving particular attention to schools with the most significant needs.

Click here to find photos and updates on the upgrades taking place throughout our school facilities.

Photo courtesy of Kiley Hoefer