Residents of the West Ada School District are less than a month away from deciding on the largest local funding decision in Idaho history.

The ask is to build two new elementary schools, a new career technical education (CTE) center, and put in work on all 58 West Ada schools over the life of this proposed 10-year, $500 million plant facilities levy. In order to determine which projects to undertake first, West Ada has drafted a community advisory board to address the most pressing needs in the district.

“We’re completely transparent,” Dr. Bub told EdNews. “We’ve had great conversations about facilities, the needs that we have, that we have today, the needs that we projected in 10 years, so we can conquer this together.”

Bub has been touting this plan at five listen-and-learn events at West Ada high schools. The next and last event is scheduled for May 4 at the Centennial High School gym, 12 days before the Tuesday, May 16 vote. These events are open to anyone. Last month’s event had less than 10 people in attendance during the informational, and non-confrontational presentation.

Voters’ primary concern is rising taxes. As the population continues to expand in Idaho’s largest district just west of Boise, however, district leaders are offering what they assert is a balancing act between maintaining current property tax rates and offering an equitable learning environment for its students.

Here’s a breakdown of the proposed levy:

Planned first is $70 million for two elementary schools

With almost 40,000 students, the West Ada district’s aged infrastructure is bursting at its expanding seams. This is most evident at Star Elementary School in the northern end of the district and at Hillsdale and Mary McPherson elementary schools in the south. Because Star Elementary is at capacity, the district has to bus students in the Star area to Eagle Elementary — a 45-minute drive during rush hour. For one parent, the time lost has led to lost opportunity for her child. This mother informed Bub that her third grader cannot play sports because he lives in the Star area, but has to take the bus to and from Eagle.

“That breaks my heart because we know that it’s those extracurriculars that really keeps a lot of our kids going,” Bub said.

With an estimated cost of $35 million each, these two 700-student capacity elementary schools are the first two of three scheduled constructions if this plant facilities levy passes. The new north elementary school would be scheduled to complete in the fall of 2024 and south in the fall of 2025.

Next, a $100 million CTE center

This levy would also enable West Ada to build a new CTE center adjacent to Owyhee High School. Scheduled to be completed by fall of 2025, this training center includes instruction in high-demand fields like construction, welding, certified nursing, pharmaceuticals, and digital media and would add new cosmetology, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing course tracks. West Ada officials want these classes to represent both career and college readiness curriculums.

“We expect that by the end of 12th grade, kids have skills to be able to be successful in college and they have skills that introduce right into the workforce,” Bub said in West Ada’s plant facilities levy tour video.

Be it carpentry or building meals, 87% of West Ada high school students complete at least one CTE course, said Bub. This means that there is a wait list for many of these experiential courses. A new CTE center would allow more students to participate in a broad range of real-world learning.

The new CTE center would also include an Early Childhood Center, enabling a select number of parents child supervision while professionals and West Ada student caregivers-in-preparation watch over their kids at the new facility.

Down the road, renovation and more construction

The two elementary schools and the CTE center are the three most immediate of the levy’s 12 major projects. Next on the list are renovations at Lake Hazel, Meridian and Ustick elementary schools, Lowell Scott and Lake Hazel middle schools and Eagle and Centennial high schools — all scheduled to upgrade facilities and accommodate a rising student population over the next few decades. Priority projects include improving arts and athletics centers, replacing thin, flimsy Armstrong walls, reflooring tiles and carpets, repainting walls and repaving parking lots.

Another $32 million is earmarked for installing a safer turf product to refit West Ada elementary school playgrounds.

What this levy will cost taxpayers

Superintendent Bub says local taxpayers get a bang for their buck in his district — and will continue to if the plant facilities levy passes.

West Ada homeowners shoulder about $158.79 per $100,000 in the assessed value of their homes. This is about 50% of the $236.87 that Nampa residents pay and a whopping 136% less than the $375.45 that Boise residents fork over for their schools, according to 2022 State Department of Education numbers. Because of two maturing bonds, this tax burden won’t change with the addition of the $500 million plant facilities levy (per district officials).

“Between our academic excellence, our CTE programs, our schools of choice, you’re not going to get a finer value for the tax rate that you’re paying right now,” Bub said.

District officials factored in budget overages and inflated market price tags in the $500 million plant facilities levy budget. The PFL advisory committee will help to direct any remaining funds. Proposals include a new high school, middle school and elementary school.

Plant facilities levy breakdown by project

(from the West Ada school district)

Barbara Morgan STEM Academy renovation – $15 million

Built in 1979, this is one of the district’s oldest buildings. Project recommendations include, but are not limited to:

• Improvements to portables
• Playground upgrades and accessibility
• Interior re-model
• Add natural light throughout the school building (windows and sky lights)
• Technology upgrades and improvements (wireless projection, TVs in classrooms, etc.)

New North Elementary School — $35 million

A new, 700-capacity elementary school to ease overcrowding and provide more learning room at Star Elementary School and Eagle Elementary School, giving students more room to learn.
Completion date of fall 2024.

New South Elementary School — $35 million

A new, 700-capacity elementary school to ease overcrowding and provide more learning room at Hillsdale Elementary School and Mary McPherson Elementary School.
Completion date of fall 2025.

New CTE Center (Zone 1) — $100 million

A new, 1,000-student capacity career technical education center to provide further classroom and hands-on learning for post-secondary skills and trades.
Completion date of fall 2025.

Elementary School Playground Upgrades & Accessibility — $32 million

Refit all West Ada elementary schools with a turf product that replaces “soft fall” wood-chip product designed to make playgrounds safer and reduce periodic replacement costs.

Upgrading playground equipment at all West Ada elementary schools with safer equipment.

Ustick Elementary School — $15 million

Built in 1958, project renovation recommendations include, but are not limited to:

• Expansion to connect buildings
• Playground upgrades and accessibility
• Painting

Meridian Elementary School — $15 million

Built in 1958, project renovation recommendations, but are not limited to:

• Expansion to connect buildings
• Playground upgrades and accessibility
• Painting
• Boiler removal and upgrade to system

Lowell Scott Middle School — $20 million

Built in 1971, project renovation recommendations, but are not limited to:

• Roofing
• Flooring
• HVAC
• Armstrong wall removal
• Paint
• Parking lot

Lake Hazel Middle School — $20 million

Built in 1978, project renovation recommendations, but are not limited to:

• Roofing
• Flooring
• HVAC
• Armstrong wall removal
• Paint
• Parking lot

Lake Hazel Elementary School — $20 million

Built in 1974, project renovation recommendations, but are not limited to:

• Playground upgrades and accessibility
• Paint
• Parking
• Roofing
• Flooring
• HVAC
• Armstrong wall removal

Eagle High School — $15 million

Built in 1995, project renovation recommendations, but are not limited to:

• An additional 8 classrooms
• Auditorium upgrades and remodel
• Athletic facility renovations to include the weight room

Centennial High School — $52 million

Built in 1987, project renovation recommendations, but are not limited to:

• An additional 8 classrooms
• Upgrades and replacement in building flooring
• Softball field renovations
• Weight room expansion
• Little Theatre upgrades
• Paint throughout the building