The Middleton School District’s board of trustees approved the language for a supplemental levy it plans to run on theNovember ballot. The levy request would be $5 million over two years, and would fall in behind a $3 million, two-year levy voters passed in 2023.

The largest chunk of the levy, around $1.1 million, would go toward paying teachers, staff, school resource officers and security personnel.

Middleton hasn’t received enough voter support to pass a bond since 2008, but the district has a better track record with supplemental levies. Levies only require a 50% majority to pass as opposed to the 67% supermajority required to pass bonds. Since 2020, Middleton has been able to pass three of five supplemental levy proposals.

The board also completed its first reading of a proposed “flag and banner” policy. At this time, Middleton is using the policy written and recommended by the Idaho School Board Association (ISBA). Superintendent Marc Gee said they may tailor it to their district’s needs before adoption. The policy was moved to a second reading.

Gee said he doesn’t plan to have administrators go through classrooms to ensure compliance, but instead wants teachers to be aware of the rules established by House Bill 41 and keep an open dialogue with administrators.

In other news:

• The board approved the district’s contract with security firm Applied Concepts after briefly meeting the firm’s employees. 
• The district adopted a series of updated policies regarding transportation, bus routes and bus drivers. The policies were recommended by the ISBA following this year’s legislative session.
• The board approved renewal of the Promise Academy’s charter. Rick Hale, the charter’s education director, gave an overview of how the charter has helped students over the last year.