Three school districts are holding elections today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

North Gem School District is seeking a $5 million bond to teardown and rebuild a portion of its school for students in kindergarten though 12th grade; American Falls School District is asking voters to renew a $1,798,108 supplemental levy; and Blackfoot School District is holding a recall election for Trustee Peter Lipovac.

North Gem School District

The North Gem election will take place at the Lions Club in Bancroft and the Gem Valley Performing Arts Center in Grace.

Superintendent Jamie Holyoak said the district decided to ask for a $5 million bond to replace the century-old portion of the school that houses 85 percent of the student body during the day.

“There are signs that maybe the foundation is not as stable as it once was,” he said, adding that there is some vertical cracking in the walls and some of the bricks are separating on the exterior.

Although the school isn’t yet in dire circumstances, Holyoak said they will need to make changes before long and officials feels it’s a good time to do it.

“Building materials are low and interest rates are low,” he said, adding that the state will also pay the interest on bonds right now.

Holyoak said they want to remove the main part of the school and rebuild another facility in the same location; they plan to keep the gymnasium, locker rooms and a couple of classrooms that are housed in a newer portion of the school.

If approved, the bond would increase taxes on a $100,000 home by roughly $12 a month, Holyoak said.

American Falls School District

American Falls School District is asking voters to renew a $1,798,108 supplemental levy for two years.

Superintendent Ron Bolinger said the money makes up 19.3 percent of the budget, which is critical to the district that has lost $1.6 million in state funding over the past four years.

“This levy is very crucial to the operation of the school district and a big part of our total budget,” he said.

Officials have had to reduce teaching positions and programs as a result of the cuts in recent years, but the supplemental levy has helped them with book, technology, library and school supply costs, as well as salaries for teachers and support personnel.

“Everyone is doing a great job and spending the money prudently. Two of our schools received four stars and we hope the community and parents will continue to support us,” Bolinger said.

If renewed, the levy, based on current assessed property values, will not raise the tax rate.

Voting will take place at the Power County EMS Building, American Falls Public Library, Power County Courthouse Annex, Pocatello Municipal Airport and the Power County Courthouse.

For more information, visit www.sd381.k12.id.us.

Blackfoot School District

The Blackfoot School District is holding a recall election for Trustee Peter Lipovac today. The election is open only to voters in the school district’s Zone One; community members can call 782-3164 if they’re unsure what zone they live in.

Polling places include the Blackfoot Performing Arts Center, Stalker Elementary School and Fort Hall Elementary School.

Those who petitioned for the recall have accused Lipovac of violating a board policy by not getting pre-approval for a trip to attend a National Indian Education Conference in New Mexico, for which he was later reimbursed $1,075.

But Lipovac has said the board policy doesn’t actually require school board members to get pre-approval. Still, School Board Chairman Scott Reese did know about the trip in advance, as did administrators and other members of the school board, he said.

Petitioners also accuse Lipovac of advocating for the proposed Chief Tahgee Elementary Academy, a charter school that would emphasis Indian culture and native language. They say he was actively involved in the development of the charter school and should have recused himself from a vote in January, in which board members decided to send the charter school’s application to the state for review.

But Lipovac has said he received written guidance from Michelle Clement Taylor, school choice coordinator for the Idaho State Department of Education in Boise, which encouraged school board members to get involved in the planning, development and oversight of charter schools. He acted on her advice, and as such, he says he didn’t need to recuse himself from any votes on the matter.

For more information about the recall issues, visit blackfootjournal.com.