THE SUMMIT

ELEVATING EDUCATION AT BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

BCSD Trustees: Blanca Romero, Amber Perkes, Vice Chair Dan Turner, Leah Scarnegi, and Chair Lara Stone

BCSD welcomes back Trustees Dan Turner and Blanca Romero

Congratulations to Trustees Dan Turner and Blanca Romero, whose positions were uncontested in the November election. They will be able to continue their incredible work on the school board for another four years!

In other good news, BCSD trustees were relieved to hear last month that K-12 schools will be exempt from the 3% holdbacks imposed by Governor Little across the state to balance the 2025-26 budget.

Although this doesn't address Idaho's chronic underfunding of education, it does protect the revenue already appropriated by the state legislature for the 2025-26 school year.

Supplemental levy on November 4 election ballot

Blaine County School District is running a supplemental levy on the November 4 ballot that would provide $3.85 million annually for two years.

Funds would be used for programs not covered by state or federal funds, including Special Education expenses, all-day kindergarten, pre-school, summer school, school resource officers, and cyber security enhancements.

The levy would cost no more than $16.33 per $100,000 of the assessed value of your home. Click here to calculate its impact on you. Note that the actual impact may be less - learn more here: Idaho’s supplemental levy bill rises, but the hit on property owners decreases.

“We are so proud that Wood River High School offers students in Blaine County more Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Credit (college) courses than any other high school our size in the state” 

- Superintendent Jim Foudy

WRHS Ranked Among Idaho’s Best

Congratulations to Wood River High School (WRHS) for being ranked 17th out of 157 Idaho high schools by U.S. News & World Report! This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and staff.

With just under 1,000 students, WRHS mirrors the diversity of our surrounding community. The school’s staff take pride in fostering an inclusive environment where all students can succeed.

WRHS students excel both in and out of the classroom. In recent years, the WRHS choir, robotics and debate teams have all performed at the national level. Recognizing the importance of seasonal athletics like skiing, Blaine County School District adopted a trimester schedule that better aligns with sports seasons—helping traveling athletes maintain strong academic performance.

Read more...

Blaine County Education Foundation

The Blaine County Education Foundation supports Blaine County public school students through the School Meals and Students in Need programs, and provides building-wide and classroom grants to BCSD teachers, staff, and students, supporting initiatives that drive student growth and development. To learn more, click on the video below:

Blaine County School District celebrates the achievements of teachers, staff, volunteers and community members. Fill out a Board Accolade Nominations form today!

Stephanie Carlson, Database Specialist

Stephanie Carlson

From Adam Johnson, Assistant Superintendent:

"Stephanie manages the student information system for the district, which includes registration, student information, grades, and more.

Stephanie's customer service skills are amazing. She is always available to help parents, students, and staff.

Stephanie is an expert in PowerSchool and she is always seeking opportunities to learn more."

Adam Johnson, Assistant Superintendent

Adam Johnson

From Wood River High School Administration Team:

"As the WRHS Administrative Team, we are honored to nominate Assistant Superintendent Adam Johnson for his steady leadership and constant support.

Adam is knowledgeable, approachable, and calm under pressure. He listens with an open mind, offers thoughtful guidance, and helps us work through challenges with the best interests of students at heart. Adam is willing to step in and guide us through difficult situations, and he is always mindful of protecting his staff. He is prepared to take responsibility when hard decisions must be made—whether by him or in collaboration with us—knowing that those decisions serve students’ best interests and uphold laws and policies. His mentorship and encouragement have made us stronger leaders and a stronger team.

We are grateful for Adam's partnership and the positive impact he has on our school and community."

5B Digital Wellness Network

Teen grants for events

Do you have an idea for an event for teens? Apply to The Space for a grant and get paid to make an event for teens, by teens. To apply, all you need is to be in 6-12 grade, have an adult mentor, and a great idea!

Blaine County School District collaborated with parents last year to increase average student attendance district-wide from 92.6% to 95%!

Photo credit: Brittany Newman/AP

Chronic absenteeism

EducationWeek | Spotlight

Over 1 in 4 students in the US were chronically absent last year. The rate for 10th-12th graders rose by almost 2% in 2024-25.

When students miss class, grades and graduation rates drop, they lose a sense of belonging, and they experience higher anxiety and behavior issues.

Chronic absenteeism negatively impacts grades and graduation rates, plus other classmates, teachers, and schools.

Learn more...