STAR – As Star’s new elementary school, Independence, neared the end of its construction, West Ada’s community liaison Katie Rhodenbaugh sent families an email inviting them to come see the nearly complete building.
Hundreds of future students and their parents poured through the building Thursday afternoon. As visitors came and went, school administrators estimated about 500 came to see their soon-to-be elementary school.
“This is more than I even expected,” said principal Jeff Christopherson, who left Hunter Elementary in Meridian to take the head position at Independence. “In hindsight, I should’ve known, because it’s Star, and Star turns out big for things that happen in Star.”
Independence Elementary was built to alleviate overcrowding at Star Elementary. The U-shaped school building has two wings, one shorter than the other. West Ada spokeswoman Michelle Edmonds said the short wing can be extended if Independence exceeds its capacity. At 60,000 square feet, it should serve up to 700 students.
The building cost $20 million, an average construction cost for elementary schools. West Ada drew from House Bill 521 money to build the school. The district received more than $150 million from the legislation in 2024.
Last year, Star Mayor Trevor Chadwick celebrated the new school as relief for families whose students were bused up to 45 minutes each way to Star Elementary.
“It’s great, because the other school is very crowded,” said Elizabeth Jackson, a mom whose son will attend Independence. “This is going to relieve a lot of pressure.”
Administrators invited future students to literally leave their mark on the new school by writing on the floor of what will be the cafeteria. Papers posted on the walls and floor directed students to integrate the school’s newly revealed mascot, an Osprey, into their floor artwork.
Fifth-grade teacher David Lorenzo has taught for nearly three decades. He followed Christopherson, who staff and students call Mr. C, from Hunter Elementary.
“It’s so exciting, the opportunity to build something from the ground up and to work with and build this team of teachers has been so exciting – beyond exciting,” Lorenzo said.
Lorenzo said he loves the building’s layout and natural light.
Independence is built with a “biophilic design,” a philosophy named after the innate human desire to connect with nature.
West Ada drew from research suggesting natural light and colors enhance student wellbeing, Edmonds told Idaho Education News. The school’s interior will be painted with light yellow, green and blue shades.
Independence Elementary is the 60th school in the West Ada district, and according to current district building plans, it’s not the last. But Idaho’s biggest district is taking it one school at a time unlike nearby Vallivue School District, which built two elementary schools simultaneously. West Ada and Vallivue both cover large swathes of land, and both experience rapid population growth on either end of their districts.
Superintendent Derek Bub is confident in Christopherson, a Star resident, and his ability to lead the new school.
“Jeff knows systems, and he’s going to be able to jump right in and continue the tradition of excellence,” Bub said.
Independence Elementary will open for the first day of school on August 12. It’s currently 80% finished, construction workers told EdNews.
The district’s next project, also funded by House Bill 521, is a rebuild of Lake Hazel Elementary.
