Huddle In, We Have Updates!
September 2022
Open Houses Planned On D91’s Bond
D91 patrons will go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 8, to vote on a school bond to pay for new and improved school facilities that would address safety, security and overcrowding. To make sure parents and patrons have all the latest information about the bond, D91 is planning four Community Open Houses in October. Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend one of these events:
Oct. 4, 6:30 to 8 pm, IF Activity Center, 1575 N. Skyline Dr.
Oct. 11, 6:30 to 8 pm, Idaho Falls High School
Oct. 18, 6:30 to 8 pm, Skyline High School
Oct. 19, 6:30 to 8 pm, Sunnyside Elementary School
The bond proposal would pay for projects identified as priorities in D91’s long-term facilities plan, which was developed last winter with extensive community outreach and input. Those projects include:
A new Idaho Falls High School on a new site on 49th South to replace the current overcrowded and aged facility (The current IFHS campus would eventually become the permanent home of D91’s Career Technical Education Center with community spaces for sports and arts.)
Extensive upgrades to Skyline High School, including the addition of an auditorium
A new elementary school on Idaho Falls’ south side
A new, larger elementary school to replace Temple View Elementary School on Idaho Falls’ north side
To learn more about the long-term facilities plan and the bond proposal, check out the D91 Bond Information page on the district website.
What Is Tax Impact Of The Bond?
D91 has created an easy-to-use tax calculator so patrons can see how the proposed bond would impact their taxes. To use the tax calculator, look at the Assessment Notice you received from the Bonneville County Assessor’s office, find the table showing the assessed value of your property, look for the Net Taxable Property value, type it into the box and hit the green “Calculate” button.
The estimated cost of the bond is $233 per $100,000 of net taxable property value, but there are a number of other things to factor in:
The tax impact of the bond will not appear on tax notices until late 2023. And, D91 probably wouldn’t sell all the bonds at the same time so the initial impact is expected to be less than that $233 per $100,000 of net taxable property value.
In addition, the district is paying off its prior bonds early, which will save taxpayers millions of dollars. Those bonds will appear on tax notices next year, but then they will be completely paid off and will drop off the tax roles.
So, if the bond passes, the net change in the district’s bond levy rate -- the difference between what taxpayers are paying today and what they will pay if the new bonds pass -- is expected to be $100 per $100,000 in net taxable property value.
It Is Emotion Bowl Time!
We are excited to celebrate the 58th annual Emotion Bowl this weekend, and this one will be very special as we also celebrate upgrades to Ravsten Stadium, including new turf, a new track and energy efficient lighting. If you’re planning to go to the game on Saturday, Sept. 24, here are some reminders:
For the first time EVER, tickets are available online here. They will also be sold at the gates beginning at 2 pm.
Tickets are $6 for adults, FREE for IFHS & SHS students with an activity card, $5 for students that don’t have a D91 high school activity card and $4 for seniors and children 5 to 12. Children under 5 are FREE.
The gates to Ravsten Stadium open at 2 pm. A special ribbon-cutting event is planned at 3:35 pm. Kickoff is at 4 pm.
This year also means new Emotion Bowl traditions with a new Emotion Bowl monument on the field’s north side that features a goalpost. Players and students will be able to paint after the game and rocks etched with the history of the Emotion Bowl and the records of both schools. (Students won’t be able to paint the goalposts on the field because the new ones can’t safely support the weight of students. After the game, as is tradition, the goalposts on the field will be painted in the winning school’s colors.)
“The Emotion Bowl is always such a special event for our athletes, our families, our alumni and our whole community, and this year it is even more special as we celebrate recent investments in Ravsten Stadium that make it THE place to play high school sports,” said D91 Supt. Dr. Jim Shank “We wish our athletes the very best as they compete for this year’s Emotion Bowl title. Go Grizzlies! Go Tigers!”
Did You Hear?
We are D91Proud!
Pay For School Lunch:
Important Dates:
- Sept. 24: Emotion Bowl, Ravsten Stadium, Kickoff at 4 pm
- Oct. 4: Bond Open House, IF Activity Center, 6:30 to 8 pm
- Oct. 6-7: No School, District & State Professional Development
- Oct. 10-21: Parent Teacher Conference Block, Check with your school for details
- Oct. 11: Bond Open House, Idaho Falls High School, 6:30 to 8 pm
- Oct. 12: Board Business Meeting, IFHS Media Center, 6 pm
- Oct. 18: Bond Open House, Skyline High School, 6:30 to 8 pm
- Oct. 19: Bond Open House, Sunnyside Elementary School, 6:30 to 8 pm
- Oct. 19: Southeast Idaho College Fair, IFHS, 5 to 8 pm
- Oct. 25: Board Work Session, IFHS Media Center, 4 pm
- Oct. 26: Family Mental Health Night, VIRTUAL EVENT, 6 to 7 pm.
Celebrating Our New CTEC
The updates and renovations to the new Career and Technical Education Center temporarily located in the old Deseret Industries building are almost finished. To celebrate, the district is holding a ribbon-cutting event on Monday, Sept. 26.
The new stand-alone center has allowed Idaho Falls School District 91 to expand its successful CTE programs to include new classes like Welding, Construction Trades, Firefighting, Law Enforcement, Industrial Mechanics and Agriculture Plant and Soil. It also has allowed the district to grow its popular existing programs like CNA, EMT, Pharmacy Tech, Computer Science and Culinary Arts.
Now that the center is up and running, the district is looking to expand its partnerships with local businesses and industry so students have even more opportunities than ever.
“We want to work with local businesses to inspire students to pursue industry certifications, job-site experience and dual credits so they can take full advantage of all that these career and technical education programs offer,” said D91 Supt. Dr. Jim Shank.
Watch for more updates and information about our growing CTE program by following its INSTAGRAM Page.
Our Kids Need You!
Idaho Falls School District 91 is desperately seeking substitute teachers for the coming school year. As a substitute teacher, you can pick the grades, the schools and the times you want to teach. And, to compete in the tight job market, D91 has increased pay rates and now offers monthly bonuses for 40+, 80+ or 120+ hours worked in a month. In addition, the district reimburses applicants for training time and fingerprinting. Apply here or learn more by calling (208) 525-7510.
D91 Partners With IBE, Fed Reserve To Highlight Importance of Going On
Idaho Falls School District 91 is proud to partner with Idaho Business for Education and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco on the new Within Reach program, which highlights the importance and value of a postsecondary education, whether it’s an apprenticeship or a 4-year degree.
The power of the new Within Reach program is working with businesses to connect with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles at work, and highlight the importance of students “going on” after high school. The first of four Lunch & Learn sessions kicks off the Week of Sept. 27 at some of eastern Idaho’s largest employers. The sessions will provide employees with data, resources and access to subject matter experts.
“We appreciate the opportunity to work with IBE and local businesses to share the importance of connecting students with a pathway to success after high school,” said D91 Supt. Dr. Jim Shank. “Students have so many opportunities today, and it is important that we all work together – schools, businesses and the community – to ensure they can take advantage of all that is available.”
“We are excited to launch the Within Reach program in partnership with several local businesses, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and Idaho Falls School District 91. This effort represents an exciting and important step toward combining three powerful elements: workplace training, school programs, and parental influence toward advancing postsecondary opportunities for Idaho students,” said Robert Sanchez, Vice President of Idaho Business for Education.
“In our ever-changing world, young people must be prepared. Postsecondary education is that separating factor that gives students a chance that lasts a lifetime. Whether it’s a community college, a trade program or a 4-year degree, education is the single best investment a young person can make. No one can take it away, and it never loses value,” said Mary C. Daly, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
Businesses participating in the Within Reach program include the City of Idaho Falls, EIRMC, Hartwell Insurance and Idaho Steel. Watch the D91 website for more information and resources in support of this program.
Free & Reduced Lunches:
We are D91Proud!
Empowering Parent Grants:
There’s still time to apply for Idaho’s Empowering Parents grants, which provide Idaho students in K-12 with money to buy educational goods and services. Learn more and apply here.
Free Mental Health Night on Oct. 26
D91 is holding a FREE virtual Mental Health Family Night at 6 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 26, as part of its ongoing partnership with ParentGuidance.org, which offers free mental health resources to families. The event will give parents a chance to ask family therapists questions about important topics such as identifying anxiety, depression, grief, suicide ideation and parenting with a purpose. Learn more and register here.
ParentGuidance offers a wide array of FREE mental resources available to parents and families. Available resources include: online classes, an “Ask A Therapist” feature and Parent Coaching. In addition, ParentGuidance offers a monthly mental health newsletter that offers great tips and resources. This month’s issue focuses on Compassion Fatigue. When a parent or caregiver naturally supports someone going through a significant traumatic event, they can experience Compassion Fatigue. It is often referred to as “the cost of caring.” Check out the latest issue for nine signs of compassion fatigue and things you can do to protect your own mind, body, and spirit. Learn more at: parentguidance.org.D91’s Safety Drills and Protocols
The safety and security of our students is always a priority in Idaho Falls School District 91. As part of our efforts to keep students and staff safe and to prepare for any number of emergency situations, our schools conduct different kinds of emergency drills during the school year. Here’s a quick overview of our different protocols and drills:
Evacuate: An evacuation is called for when we need to remove students from a school or off school grounds because of a hazard in the building such as a fire, fire alarm, smoke, gas leak or other hazardous conditions.
Reverse Evacuation: A reverse evacuation is called when students need to return to the school building because there is a nearby threat such as a danger on the playground, a mountain lion in the neighborhood or law enforcement activity nearby.
Shelter or Shelter In Place: Shelter or shelter in place is called when there is a neighborhood hazard such as an earthquake, toxic chemical spill or severe storm. The goal is to provide a safe and secure place for students while school and emergency officials address the hazard.
Lock Out: A lock out is called when there is a threat near a school such as police action nearby, a suspicious person or object near a school or to minimize traffic in a school due to a medical emergency or law enforcement activity in the building. The goal is to secure the building from external threats. During a lock out, no one is allowed into the building, but classroom activities continue as normal.
Lock Down: A lock down is called when there is an imminent threat to students and staff such as an armed intruder or an outbreak of violence in the school. The goal is to protect students with a focus on safety and survival so movement within the school is restricted unless necessary.
D91 will notify parents by text that a school is conducting a drill or if there is an emergency situation. To ensure you are receiving those texts, please make sure your contact information – cell phone and email – is current in PowerSchool. If you’re not receiving those texts, contact your school secretary. To learn more about school safety in Idaho Falls School District 91, click here.