Middleton School District trustees approved a name and tabled construction bids for the new elementary school at a special Tuesday afternoon meeting.
The board tabled voting on a bid package for the new elementary school’s construction because potential bidders were not able to prepare bids in time. It will meet again next week to vote.
The new Freedom Elementary, a name voted on by district constituents, won’t be far — in nomenclature or distance — from Independence Elementary, a new elementary school on the West Ada School District side of Star.
Middleton’s new elementary will be located on the Canyon County side of Star, a city in two counties. It will serve one of the state’s fastest-growing areas and alleviate overcrowding(opens in new tab) in two elementary schools
In other action, trustees approved language for a $3 million supplemental levy, spread over two years, to fund teaching and classified positions, new curriculum, school resource officers, classroom technology and a “hot topic:” extracurricular transportation.
The deadline for districts to submit ballot language is Friday, Aug. 28.
After a failed suppemental levy in May, Middleton administrators made a round of cuts to staff, curricula and logistics. Constituents have been particularly frustrated by the lack of busing for extracurricular activities like sports, trustees said.
Superintendent Marc Gee also presented language for a $2.8 million levy, an increase of about $2 per year per $100,000 of property value to taxpayers, over the $3 million option. Trustees didn’t like it.
“I would say two dollars makes a big difference when it comes to taking care of our schools that we’re jamming full,” Dempsey said in favor of running the larger $3 million levy.
Trustee Jay Clark suggested putting the transportation issue front-and-center in the levy.
“That should give us some more votes, if that’s a hot topic,” Clark said.
Trustees also approved a list of potential mascots for the new school: Elementary students will vote to choose between being Eagles, Falcons, Pioneers, Patriots or Stars.
The board has not yet scheduled a special meeting for next week when it will decide on a bid package for Freedom Elementary’s construction.
