Board Unanimously Backs Plan for Deep Cuts
The Bonneville School District board of trustees unanimously approved a contingency plan Wednesday night outlining significant program eliminations and staff reductions if voters reject a supplemental levy scheduled for the May 19 ballot.
Under the plan presented by Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme, physical education and music programs would be eliminated in the first year following a levy failure. Gifted and talented programs would be phased out, and teachers would be reassigned as part of broader cost-cutting measures.
In the second year of the contingency plan, all-day kindergarten would be reduced to half-day sessions. The district would use savings to maintain full-day kindergarten for one additional year if the levy does not pass, according to Woolstenhulme.
The superintendent emphasized that the proposed cuts represent measures district leaders do not want to implement but must plan for given the financial outlook.
$19.2 Million Levy on May Ballot
Bonneville voters will decide on a two-year, $19.2 million supplemental levy next month. The amount represents a substantial increase from the district’s previous levy request of $11.6 million, which trustees voted to raise in March.
Woolstenhulme said Wednesday that the contingency plan offers patrons and faculty their first detailed look at potential consequences if the levy fails.
The district last increased its levy in 2017. Trustee Randy Smith noted significant changes since then, including inflation and the opening of additional school buildings.
Budget Pressures Mount
Bonneville School District faces a budget shortfall that leaders estimate at $6 million. The financial strain stems from continued enrollment declines and the Idaho Legislature’s decision this session to maintain flat state K-12 funding levels.
Some cost-cutting measures will proceed regardless of the levy outcome. District administrators have agreed to forgo salary increases and a monthly $100 mileage allowance in response to the budget gap.
Woolstenhulme outlined potential staff reductions of approximately 40 employees in a March livestream and written communication to the community. Those reductions would be part of broader cost-saving measures if the levy does not pass.
Declining Fund Balance Prompts Action
The district has been drawing from its fund balance to manage budget difficulties in recent years. At the current spending rate, district leaders warn that savings will be depleted by 2027.
The budget challenges in Bonneville mirror difficulties facing other Idaho school districts preparing for cuts, even as K-12 education has remained exempt from other statewide budget reductions.
What Comes Next
Bonneville County voters will cast ballots on the supplemental levy May 19. If the measure fails, the district will implement the first phase of its contingency plan for the upcoming school year. District officials are expected to continue communicating details of both the levy request and potential cuts to voters in the weeks leading up to the election.