West Ada puts levy on the ballot

After some fits and starts earlier this week, West Ada district trustees agreed to put a two-year, $14-million-a-year supplemental levy on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The state’s largest school district already collects $14 million in supplemental levies annually, but the voter-approved levy expires in 2016. That prompted trustees to vote Thursday night to seek a two-year extension.

West Ada district logo(More from Thursday night’s meeting from the Idaho Statesman and KIVI Idaho On Your Side.)

District leaders say the levy has allowed them to rehire 35 teachers and restore nine days to the teaching calendar — and Superintendent Linda Clark says those jobs and school days hinge on a renewal of the levy.

Nov. 3 is already shaping up to be a busy school election day across the state. The Bonneville School District will seek a $66 million bond issue for a new high school; two proposals failed earlier this year. In the Nampa School District, administrators are looking at renewing, or bolstering, a two-year, $6.8 million supplemental levy.

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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