Bonneville Joint School District 93 Trustees in Idaho Approve Phased Cuts Contingency Plan Amid $6 Million Budget Shortfall
Idaho District Outlines Program Eliminations if May Levy Fails
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Bonneville Joint School District 93 trustees have unanimously approved a contingency plan that would eliminate physical education and music programs, phase out gifted and talented offerings, and reassign teachers if voters reject a $19.2 million supplemental levy on the May 19 ballot. The board approved the phased cuts during a meeting Wednesday night, giving taxpayers and school staff their first formal look at what reduced funding would mean for students across Bonneville County.
Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme presented the two-phase plan to trustees, describing it as a necessary contingency rather than a desired course of action. Under the first year of the plan, the district would cut P.E. and music programs, phase out gifted and talented offerings, and reassign teachers to reduce costs. In the second year, all-day kindergarten would transition to half-day kindergarten — though Woolstenhulme said the district would draw from its savings reserves to fund full-day kindergarten for one additional year if the levy fails.
“I just want to be clear, this is nothing, I think, any of us want to do,” Woolstenhulme said of the cuts.
The superintendent framed Wednesday’s presentation as the first opportunity for the public and district faculty to understand the financial stakes heading into the May election. What the May 19th vote means for students, schools, and the community has become a pressing question as the district faces a budget shortfall leaders estimate at $6 million.
Enrollment Declines and Flat State Funding Drive Budget Pressure
The financial strain in Bonneville Joint School District 93 stems from a combination of continued enrollment declines and a decision by Idaho lawmakers during the most recent legislative session to keep state K-12 funding flat. While K-12 education has been exempt from other statewide budget cuts, district leaders say flat funding combined with declining student headcounts has left them with shrinking resources and rising costs.
Trustee Randy Smith acknowledged the difficult landscape during Wednesday’s meeting, noting that circumstances have changed significantly since the district last increased its levy in 2017. “We have inflation, we’ve opened more schools,” Smith said.
The district has relied on its fund balance to offset ongoing budget struggles, but at Bonneville’s current rate of spending, district leaders warn that savings will be depleted by 2027. That financial reality prompted trustees to increase their levy request from an earlier figure of $11.6 million to the current $19.2 million ask over two years.
Some budget reductions are already moving forward regardless of how voters decide on May 19. District administrators have agreed to forego salary increases and a monthly $100 mileage allowance in response to the shortfall — a sign that belt-tightening is already underway at the administrative level.
Woolstenhulme first outlined potential cost-saving measures in a March livestream and Facebook post, including a possible staff reduction of approximately 40 employees. That earlier disclosure set the stage for Wednesday’s formal board vote on the full contingency framework.
Levy Vote on May 19 Carries Significant Consequences for Programs
The two-year, $19.2 million supplemental levy now heads to voters on May 19. Supplemental levies are a common tool used by Idaho school districts to fund operations and programs that go beyond what state funding covers. For Bonneville County families, the vote carries direct implications for classroom programming, staffing levels, and the structure of early childhood education.
For broader context on education funding challenges facing Idaho districts, visit Idaho News for statewide coverage.
What Comes Next
Bonneville Joint School District 93 voters will head to the polls on May 19 to decide on the two-year, $19.2 million supplemental levy. If the levy fails, district administrators will begin implementing the first phase of program cuts — including the elimination of P.E. and music — in the following school year. A second phase, which would reduce all-day kindergarten to half-day, would follow the year after, with the district using reserves to delay that change by one year. District leaders have indicated they will continue community outreach ahead of the election to inform patrons of the financial situation and the consequences of both outcomes.