The public will have a chance to learn more about the Idaho Falls School District’s $84.5 million bond (to be repaid over a 20-year period) proposal during two schoolhouse meetings scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Theresa Bunker Elementary School and 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Ethel Boyes Elementary School.
The bond election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 17. Polls will be open from 8 am to 8 pm at Clair E. Gale Junior High School; Idaho Falls and Skyline high schools and all our elementary schools, except Dora Erickson Elementary.
Proposed Bond Projects
- Rebuild the oldest elementary schools: Ethel Boyes, Edgemont, Longfellow and Dora Erickson
- Build a new school on Idaho Falls’ south end to accommodate growth
- Remodel Theresa Bunker to accommodate special programs
- Add classrooms and multipurpose rooms at Sunnyside and Westside
- Add a multipurpose room at Fox Hollow Elementary School
- Add a multipurpose room, plus a new office area at Temple View Elementary School
- Install energy efficiency upgrades at Linden Park, Taylorview and Eagle Rock and a new fire suppression system at Eagle Rock
- Remodel classrooms and update electrical, lighting and HVAC systems at Emerson High School
- Upgrade science labs and energy install energy efficiencies at Clair E. Gale Junior High School
- Add 8 classrooms at Idaho Falls High School
- Renovate and upgrade the science wing at Skyline High School
- Update locker rooms, restrooms and concession stands at Ravsten Stadium
- Remodel administrative areas
- District-wide lighting upgrades and energy conservation measures
The bond election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. Polls will be open from 8 am to 8 pm at Clair E. Gale Junior High School, Idaho Falls and Skyline high schools and all elementary schools, except Dora Erickson Elementary.
(Information provided by SD.91’s website, http://www.d91.k12.id.us/.)
Popularity: 1%
Related posts:
- Update: School District 93 no longer considering a 4-day school week, instead plans to explore other budget and program cuts. Meetings scheduled for next week.
- VOTE “NO” On The New School Bond! INSTEAD, Merge The Two Local School Districts Into One!!!
- Bonneville School District 93 is considering a four-day school week. What are your thoughts?
- The Name is Bond…Failed Bond
- Where is District 91 School Board Leadership?
Gato got runned over by Marcus many moons ago. Be ye daft, 2486? 
Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
Loading ...
{ 1 trackback }
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am just curious to find out what the timeframe is on this specific project. I heard on the news that it would be a minimum of 3 years, but is there a maximum. It seems as though the longer this project extends the more it will cost do to inflation. In addition how will all of these funds be tracked so that we know exactly how and where this money is being used. Anyone else concerned with this. Is the district really going to be able to do everything they are looking to do for that amount? Will the district use local firms so that the money will benefit the economy of Idaho Falls?
I had the opportunity to go to the meeting at Ethyl Boyes last night and my eyes were opened to some of the information that was given. Yet again, I am concerned due to the fact that they claim that they are going to be building 5 new schools to replace the existing schools that are in the currently in place. Do we really need “new” schools? They claim that each of the new schools is going to cost roughly $10 Million each which my calculations leads to $34.5M left for the final 12 schools that they are going to be working on. That roughly leaves $3.5 mill for each of the rest of the schools. This is a good amount but I don’t believe that it will be enough to touch all schools. I could be wrong.
A few other comments that bothered me and that were not answered in relation to the construction project is that the school district has yet to determine the method of construction they will use but yet still anticipate that it will be accomplished in a matter of 3 years. The district obviously does not have any experience in construction and therefore do not realize timing. It takes well over 3 years for the design/bid/build process to build and rebuild 17 schools. No way this will be possible.
Another comment that was made is that the district will hire individuals to help with the construction process. The last district run project was a familiar one to quite a few individuals in the community, Hawthorne Elementary. From my understanding this was supposed to be a 3-4 month project that ended up running 3 years and well over budget. That was for one school. How are they going to be able to do 17 schools in three years when they couldn’t even do 1 school in 3 years? Yet again, I am very concerned.
Mr. Boland also mentioned that most of the Architecture and Engineering work were going to be sourced out to firms out of Idaho to a company called Design West Architects. So much for the stimulus of the Idaho economy. The other concern that needs to be raised is that this needs to directly affect the community of Idaho Falls. We need to have contractors and subcontractors from this area that do this work. If it goes to a design/bid/build then the great contractors like Bateman-Hall probably will not get a chance to do any of the project because they build quailty work for a very reasonable price but may not be the lowest. Design/bid/build states that you have to take the lowest bidder every time. Do we really want companies that may go out of buiness in the next few years to be building our schools? Look at what happened to Bush Elementary. Shotty work and the district had to go back and try to get money back from them for the work that was done. This is going to be a common theme if the work is done Design/bid/build. And on top of that to be managed by the school district that has a difficult time maintaining their own budget.
I am afraid that they will only to give us half of what is promised and the projects will last over 5-8 years instead of 3 years. I hope that people will raise a little more concern on this project and that the word will get out more than it has. Taxpayers need to understand that if the are not able to finish the project for that cost they will have to bond again like in Madison County. More and more money will be needed to complete the projects. Which results in higher taxes for us the taxpayers…