CALDWELL — Trustees came to a unanimous decision Monday night, voting to close one of the Caldwell School District’s oldest schools.
Lincoln Elementary School, built in 1941, will be closing immediately for the 2024-25 school year.
The decision comes after the failed renewal of a $4.1 million supplemental levy in the May 21 primary election. According to the district, the CSD has had a supplemental levy consistently for 50 years.
“Lincoln Elementary is significant and (its closure) provides the district $2 million in reductions in the general fund,” Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Sanderson said during Monday night’s meeting, which was held at Lincoln.
Attendance at Monday’s meeting was sparse, with approximately 40 people sitting in the audience. The school served preschool to fifth grade with a 2023-24 enrollment of 280.
Caldwell isn’t the first district in the valley to consider closing schools in the face of shrinking enrollment and reduced funds.
Last year, the Nampa School District voted to close one middle school and three elementary schools. The decision followed the failure of a $14 million levy in the November 2023 consolidated election.
The Boise School District’s Owyhee Elementary School has also been considered for closure in recent months. District administration cited the school’s low enrollment as a part of the consideration, with 148 students enrolled in the past year. The BSD board is expected to come to a decision on Aug. 12.
Lincoln’s building will be repurposed for the district office and the Boys & Girls Club. The current district office will be used for Canyon Springs High School, Caldwell’s alternative school. The district will be able to defer $9 million in maintenance at the current Canyon Springs building with this move.
At Monday’s meeting, the board approved new boundaries that will reassign some elementary students to new schools.
Trustees also set the 2024-2025 budget at Monday’s meeting, with the failed levy a large point of consideration. Many programs will see cuts and reductions, though the board hopes these changes will be temporary.
STAFF CUTS“The Caldwell School District is not the only school district suffering,” Sanderson said, referring to statewide budget changes.
Sanderson said the previous enrollment-based funding model was largely beneficial for the district. The switch back to attendance-based funding has resulted in an annual reduction of $1.4 million in state funding.
The district will be reducing staff by 47 full-time, in-school positions and 19 district positions. No district staff or administration will receive raises.
“This is just kind of the hand we’ve been dealt,” Trustee Andrew Butler said about layoffs.
Due to budget cuts, the district will no longer be able to afford its school resource officer contract with the Caldwell Police Department.
The district will seek federal grants to afford the $300,000 contract, but for now, will not have SROs at schools.
“We need the schools to be funded for safety and security,” Caldwell Superintendent Shalene French said.
French said security funding has declined over the years, with the district receiving $64,000 annually from state funds.
Throughout the meeting, district staff and trustees emphasized the importance of community members speaking with legislators, voicing the strain placed on local schools.
“We’re all out there saying the same thing,” Sanderson said about Idaho school districts.
STRAIN ON EXTRACURRICULARSPreviously, the CSD had not charged athletes to play school sports. With budget restraints, athletics will now consider implementing a “pay to play” fee.
“We’re going to have to buck up and find the money,” Caldwell Athletic Director Jon Hallock said.
Hallock said they have discussed the potential of cutting swim programs and freshman volleyball.
“My opinion is that it will hurt us,” Hallock said. “This is mainly to get us through this year.”
Sports may be limited to having A teams and no B teams.
Syringa Middle School will offer all middle school team sports, while Jefferson Middle School will not have any.
Transportation for sports between schools is expected to be cut. Bussing for activities, including after-school tutoring, accelerated programs and orchestra, will also be eliminated.
“There’s no funding for away games now,” parent Miranda Seibold-Reese said, speaking to the board. “... How do we expect kids to thrive when we take (that) away?”
At the board’s request, the district budget will continue to support music and physical education classes.
The district will be hosting a fee hearing in July for associated student body fees. Athletics has proposed to increase the ASB fee from $35 to $50.
ASB fees are paid by students who participate in extracurricular activities and clubs, including athletics, student council and band.
Nearing the upcoming November election, the board hopes to host a town hall meeting to discuss the levy with community members. The district plans to rerun the levy to receive funds for 2026.
“We have to keep our lights on, we have to keep our heat on,” Sanderson said. “There’s certain things we don’t have control over.”