Shelley Joint School District asking for $67.8 million bond to build new high school
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SHELLEY — A local school district will ask for a $67.8 million bond to build a new high school in the upcoming election.
Voters will have the opportunity to decide the fate of the bond for Shelley Joint School District #60 on Nov. 7.
“From a superintendent perspective, district-wide, I just need more capacity,” Superintendent Chad Williams told EastIdahoNews.com.
He said the idea of the bond became a discussion with the district building committee back in 2020.
Capacity issues
Williams said the current high school is past capacity. The capacity at Shelley High School is 650 students. However, there have been additions outside of the school to fit more students.
“We have four modular classrooms and the two classrooms in the newly constructed building near the football scoreboard…so six classrooms that are outside and a seminary building,” Williams said.
Right now, there are 790 kids at Shelley High School.
So what will be included in the new high school?
There will be building space to absorb student growth until at least 2040. This is based on a 2% annual growth rate. The current ten year growth rate is 1.65%, according to a bond flyer posted on the district’s website.
The core areas of the new high school, like the commons, cafeteria, library, restrooms, and hallways, will have the capacity to accommodate 1,000 students.
“The main thing that is going to be hugely different is the auditorium. The plan is to have seating for 600,” Williams said. “We have one music classroom in the high school right now and in this new high school, the plan is to have an additional one…and just updated modern learning spaces.”
The new high school will be designed for future additions.
Where will the new high school be located?
The new high school would be located on property that the district already owns.
“Ten years ago, we purchased property south of the current high school and I am very thankful for that,” Williams said.
The new high school would be near the current Shelley High School, by Fir Street and Baseline Road.
Below is a rendering of what the new high school could potentially look like.
But what will happen to the current Shelley High School building? The plan is to continue using all of the district’s buildings.
“The new high school will house our 9 through 12 students. The current high school would become our 7/8 building. We need the capacity,” Williams said.
How much will the proposal raise taxes?
According to the district’s website, yearly, $154 (increase from $67 to $221) per $100,000 of taxable market value, not including homeowner’s exemption.
Look at the following table below for examples from the district.
Click here to view frequently asked questions.
What if the bond doesn’t pass?
Williams says there are different possibilities of what might happen if the bond doesn’t pass. More modular classrooms could be purchased. There could be a mobile teacher who would move from room to room and use the classroom of a teacher who is on prep hour.
New “non-resident enrollment” requests would be denied due to programs or grade levels being at capacity. Although, this has already begun.
“Students that live outside of our school district, they have to apply to come to our school district, and we are telling them all no because we are full, except we have room for a couple more fourth graders if they apply,” Williams said.
Upcoming bond meeting
There will be an upcoming bond meeting on Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Theatre at the Shelley High School. All are welcome to attend.
Williams additionally has 60 second updates that he posts about the bond. Click here to watch the updates.
“My goal is to just make sure everybody is informed,” Williams said.
If the bond passes, the new high school would take approximately three years to build, and students could start attending it in 2027.
Bond issues in Idaho require a 66.6 percent supermajority support from voters to pass. Click here to find out where to vote.