2006 BOND PROJECTS COMPLETED
COMMUNITY SUPPORT ALLOWS FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS
2006 Bond Update: Promises Made, Promises Kept
Thanks to the community's support and the passage of the 2006 bond election (70.45% Yes vote), the Boise School District has been able to renovate, consolidate, and rebuild a number of schools. To date, the $94-million dollar bond election allowed the District to complete:
- New construction of East, South and West junior high schools;
Grace Jordan, Whitney and Morley Nelson elementary schools; and Frank Church High School;
- Complete renovations of Roosevelt and Lowell elementary schools;
- Building of a new gymnasium at North Junior High School, and
- Partial renovations at Capital and Borah high schools
The District is proud to report that all of the projects have been on time and within budget, including renovation work at Capital High School. Built in 1965, the school recently underwent some sorely needed renovation work in the form of newly installed energy efficient windows, renovated bathrooms, floor replacement, renovated main office space and the replacement of the school's stair tower.
Across town, at Borah High School, funds from the successful 2006 bond election paved the way for significant facility improvements. Bathrooms at the 54-year old school have been renovated, an addition for the gymnasium completed, replacement of bleachers, aging windows replaced with more energy efficient ones, as well as complete an energy retrofit of the school's gymnasium lights.
Currently, the State of Idaho provides no direct money for school construction. As a result, major school renovation and/or replacement projects require the support of District voters, while essential maintenance is funded by the District. 52% of District schools were built more than a half century ago. Generally, public school buildings have a life expectancy of 40-60 years. A number of District schools are currently within that life expectancy.
Regarding another bond election in the future, on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 the Boise School District will hold a bond election to support a 10-year Educational Facilities Master Plan to reinvest in our neighborhood schools and community with NO increase in the current property tax rate. The bond will help meet the needs of today's students and the students of the future by reinvesting in our schools and in our communities. Learn more here.
The District would like to take this opportunity to thank our community members for their support of the District and its students. The successful passage of the 2006 bond allowed the District to make promises and today those promises have been kept.