Nampa trustees approve emergency levy

(UPDATED, 3:54 p.m., with details on Caldwell’s emergency levy.)

The Nampa School District will collect a one-year, $478,000 emergency levy to address growth issues.

Trustees unanimously approved the levy Monday night.

Nampa.logoThe levy’s biggest line item is $150,000 to hire teacher’s aides to work in crowded elementary classrooms. Another $100,000 will be used to replace outdated sports safety equipment. The rest will go to a variety of areas — from replacing computer servers and office furniture to hiring a grant-writing consultant.

“These one-time resources will provide some much needed support for teachers with large class sizes in the elementary schools and will address some critical safety needs in our athletic programs,” Superintendent David Peterson said.

Nampa hasn’t collected an emergency levy since 2012-13.

Nampa will be before voters Nov. 3 seeking a two-year, $15.56 million supplemental levy. Unlike supplemental levies, emergency levies do not require voter approval; districts can collect them if enrollment growth meets legal thresholds.

Nampa’s average daily attendance so far this year is 13,630, up 107 students from 2014.

Elsewhere in Canyon County, Caldwell trustees approved a $74,550 emergency levy, the Idaho Press-Tribune reported Monday.

Several other large districts are collecting emergency levies, including West Ada, Twin Falls and Coeur d’Alene. Click here for a rundown on emergency levies around the state.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 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. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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