Districts and charters receive SRO funding
Schools across Idaho were approved to receive funding for School Resource Officers this coming year — 21 districts and charters — 12 of which are receiving funding to employ an SRO for the first time.
The grant funds each SRO position for three years and the money comes from the Idaho Millennium Fund, an endowment that receives, invests and disburses money received from a class-action lawsuit against tobacco companies for marketing to minors.
Grant applicants provided the Idaho Department of Education with a memorandum of understanding between their district or charter and a local law enforcement agency, as well as a letter of intent from potential applicants for the SRO positions created by the grant.
The following districts and charters received the grant:
Nampa to continue offering free breakfast/lunch at three elementary schools
Nampa School District’s Central, Endeavor and Sherman Elementary schools will continue offering all students free breakfast and lunch every day through the 2025-2026 school year. Students at these schools do not need to apply to receive the benefits, but students at other schools must apply for free or reduced meals.
The Community Eligibility Provision program enables these schools to offer free meals. The CEP is a federal initiative that allows schools to offer free meals to their students.
Coeur d’Alene announces new leadership staff
Coeur dAlene announced last week that four key leadership roles were changing hands.
Tyler Morton joined the district as their new executive director of finance. Morton is a longtime Coeur d’Alene resident and father of four, including a current CHS student.
Morton replaces Shannon Johnston, who moved to the Central Valley School District in Washington.
Skyway Elementary welcomes new principal Eileen Blough, formerly the principal of Winton Elementary. She fills the role as former principal Lesley Runyan retires.
In Blough’s stead, Kathleen Corbeill will serve as principal of Winton Elementary. Corbeill has been the assistant principal of Winton since 2021.
Coeur d’Alene high school receives a new athletic director and assistant principal in Tony Prka, filling in as Victoria Beecher becomes the high school’s new principal. Beecher takes on the role in the wake of Mike Randles’ retirement.
Prka returns to the Coeur d’Alene district following a four-year hiatus as vice principal of Elevate Academy North in Post Falls. Prior to that, he taught in Coeur d’Alene middle schools from 2001 to 2021.
Meridian Medical Arts Charter students win international awards
The Meridian Medical Arts Charter High School recently sent 56 students to Nashville, Tenn., for the HOSA – Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference. The event drew more than 13,000 students from across the world.
MMACHS earned second place among all secondary schools and third overall, with students earning:
- 1st place in EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) earned by Hazel Fuhs and Isabela Castro
- 9th place in EMT earned by Sophia Francis & Olivia Baber (two MMACHS EMT teams placed in the top 10)
- 8th place in Parliamentary Procedure
- 6th place in Phlebotomy earned by Maxwell Shirley
MMACHS Principal Ben Merrill lauded his students’ professionalism and skill, saying “I can honestly say it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I returned inspired by the excellence of our students, the commitment of our staff, and the potential that lies ahead for MMACHS.”
