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

School levy on Nov 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 entirely covered by state or federal funds, including Special Education expenses, all-day kindergarten, pre-school, summer school, and cybersecurity enhancements. It would also expand school resource officer coverage to include Carey School, Bellevue Elementary, and Hemingway STEAM School.

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: State funding lowers impact of existing school district levies.

Photo credit: Pam Benham

A big thank-you to the teachers, community partners, staff and families who make the SummerBridge program a success for our students each year!

Summer school helps students shine

Recent data highlights the positive impact of Blaine County School District’s SummerBridge program on student learning.

Students experience a learning loss each year over the long summer break. The 5-week SummerBridge program provides almost 300 targeted elementary students with focused math and reading instruction to reduce that "summer slide". Afternoons include project-based learning in a camp-like atmosphere. Students return to school in the fall more proficient and confident in their abilities.

While changes to the state’s reading test vendor prevented year-over-year comparison in reading, math results continue to show the program’s effectiveness:

- Rising 1st graders who attended SummerBridge gained an average of 19.4 scale score points, while those who did not attend saw an average decline of 2.1 points.

- Rising 2nd graders who attended SummerBridge experienced a much smaller summer slide—a 14.4-point decrease compared to a 50.3-point decrease among non-participants.

For perspective, 1st grade students are expected to gain, on average, about 4 points per month during the school year.

Students build real homes through CTE program

As part of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum, students at Wood River High School and Carey High School are getting hands-on experience through their Residential Construction Academy courses.

Each school’s Academy is building a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home right on campus! Once completed, the homes will be sold to fund materials for the next build, allowing the program to continue giving students valuable real-world skills year after year.

Watch the video below to learn more about this exciting project:

Join other families in learning, connecting, and empowering your child’s future!

Email Anna Nielsen at anielsen@woodriverymca.org for more information today.

Learn how to support your child’s success in school

Would you like to better understand how our public education system works, what resources are available, and how to advocate for your child?

The Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE), offered through the Wood River Community YMCA in partnership with Blaine County School District, helps families build strong partnerships with public schools. Through fun and engaging sessions, parents gain the tools and confidence to support their children’s learning and help them reach their full potential.

Classes are offered at no charge, in both English and Spanish, with free child care provided. This winter, the district-wide PIQE for parents of elementary students will take place at the Hailey Community Campus every Saturday from January 31 to March 7, from 9:30am –12:00pm.