Bruneau district looks to consolidate

Rimrock High School
Come fall, Rimrock Junior-Senior High School will house all grades in the Bruneau-Grand View School District.

Less than two weeks after a $1.2 million supplemental levy went down to defeat, the Bruneau-Grand View School District is feeling the effects.

The district — serving parts of Owyhee and Elmore counties — plans to close its two elementary schools. All grades will be consolidated at Rimrock Junior-Senior High School.

Those aren’t the only plans in the works. The district will make staff cuts and eliminate funding for athletic programs, the Mountain Home News reported last week.

The Bruneau-Grand View district had a enrollment of 328 last fall — and the figure has steadily dropped in recent years. The district’s fall enrollment was 504 in 2002-03, and 432 in 2007-08.

The consolidation plan came after two failed attempts to pass a two-year, $1.2 million supplemental school levy. The May 20 vote was especially close — the levy failed by only 12 votes, the Owyhee Avalanche reported, despite receiving support from a narrow majority in Elmore County.

 

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. He can be reached at [email protected]

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