This month, I've shared lessons about teamwork from The Boys in the Boat. The young men who rowed to a gold medal in the 1936 Berlin Olympics understood intimately the importance of working together as team. They knew that they could not achieve that dream unless they learned to work together as a team.

Does teamwork really matter when our goal is not to medal in an Olympic event, but instead to help students learn?

Yes, but only if our goal is to help all students--regardless of their circumstances, aptitude and attitude--learn at high levels. When we share that commitment, we recognize it takes all of us to make it happen.

As Luis Cruz explains in the video below (starting at 4:00), when we collectively believe this, our teachers, our counselors, our support staff, and our administrators can collectively create a school culture where we truly can design success for every student.

This week, all five of our Board members spent Presidents Day meeting with our legislators in Boise. They worked to help shape the crucial education laws that are being debated this legislative session. We met with Representatives Stephanie Micklesen, Josh Wheeler, and Wendy Horman (JFAC co-chair) and Senators Dave Lent (Senate Education Committee chair) and Kevin Cook (Commerce & Human Resources chair). Our Board members raised critical issues, asked candid questions, and expressed their appreciation for the good work our elected legislators are doing to support our public schools.

I'm grateful for the time that both our Board members and our legislators took to build trust and understanding and a collaborative working relationship over the holiday. Here are two of the bills that were important discussions with our legislators.

This bill will provide our schools with funding to address long-standing facilities maintenance issues and urgent critical repairs and improvements. It will also provide more state funding to pay down our existing bonds, lowering our local property taxes.

• Replace school heating systems (50+ years old
• Replace pneumatic HVAC control systems with digital control systems to improve energy efficiency
• Make all schools ADA accessible for students and staff
• Repair and replace roofs to extend the life of our school buildings
• Modernize electrical switchgear (30+ years old)
• Repair and replace water and sewer pipes (50+ years old)

This bill would provide $5,000 or $7,500 in tax credits for families to send their children to private schools. Private schools would not be responsible to adhere to state laws and rules governing education in Idaho including:

• Accountability & transparency for expenditures of public funds

• Criminal background checks for employees

• Required certifications and licensures

• Academic accommodations as requested by parents

• Drug-free and tobacco-free campuses

Some of our legislators asked to hear how our families and staff members feel about providing tax credits for private education. Will you please click the email links below to share your thoughts on this proposed bill.

• Senator Kevin Cook* (kcook@senate.idaho.gov)
• Representative Stephanie Mickelsen* (SMickelsen@house.idaho.gov)
• Representative Wendy Horman* (wendyhorman@house.idaho.gov)
• Senator Dave Lent* (dlent@senate.idaho.gov)
• Representative Barbara Ehardt (behardt@house.idaho.gov)
• Representative Marco Erickson (merickson@house.idaho.gov)
• Senator Mark Harris (mharris@senate.idaho.gov)
• Representative Kevin Andrus (KAndrus@house.idaho.gov)
• Representative Josh Wheeler (JoshWheeler@house.idaho.gov)

Policies for Public Review

1600 Board Code of Conduct

2557 Non-Approved Student Activities or Trips

Please take this opportunity to review these changes and send your comments to buddenbr@d93.k12.id.us

The next board meeting is on February 28, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. The meeting will take place at the PLC building located at 3442 E. Iona Rd, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401. Because it is a Work Meeting there will be no public input.

Mark you calendars. D93 is hosting a Certified Hiring Event on Monday, February 26 from 3:00 pm through 6:00 pm. at Hillcrest High School. See flyer below for more information.

Be a part of the D93 Community by browsing our selection of We Are D93 Spiritwear. There is a variety of sweatshirts, hoodies, jackets and vests. Check it out!

Kindergarten Registration is on March 11, 2024 throughout the district. Please spread the word in your neighborhoods and to your friends who will attend kindergarten next year.

Follow us on Instagram for exclusive content, including a lot of our D93 sports coverage.

We are headed to Nampa to bring you coverage of the IHSAA Dance and Cheer Championships. Make sure to watch for updates on our social media platforms. Rusty Taco is a proud supporter of the Rusty Taco Road Trip which helps us bring coverage of events from around the state.

CAES is hosting an event for Junior and Seniors to visit the center. The date is March 13th. We will have three time slots: 9:00-11:00, 11:00-1:00, and 1:00-3:00. We will be able to send 30 students per session for a total of 90 students. If you have a student that would be interested, please complete this form for a chance to attend the event.

Participating K-12 students can hone their artistic skills, explore the natural world, and possibly have their original artwork featured on a stamp! Ribbons will be awarded for 25 artists in each age category (Kindergarten-3 grade, 4-6 grade, 7-9 grade, and 10-12 grade). Entries are due March 1, 2024. I have listed some basic guidelines at the end of this email, or you can check out the complete contest rules.

Click the button below for more information.

The 20th Annual Idaho Teen Film Festival will be held on May 9th at Hillcrest High School. Teens may submit a film in one of the following categories with a $300 category prize awarded for EACH category:

• ACTION/DRAMA

• COMEDY

• DOCUMENTARY

• COMMERCIAL

• SHORT SUBJECT

• SPORTS

Go to www.idahoteenfilmfestival.org for more information.

This fall, Elevate Academy East will open its doors for at-risk students in 6th - 10th grades. Elevate Academy is a charter school that will operate independently of District 93 but will primarily serve students who live within our district boundaries. Elevate will provide students with learning opportunities in career technical education including

• Welding / fabrication
• Construction
• Culinary arts
• Business and marketing
• Precision machining
• Medical arts
• Cyber security
• Public safety

For questions, please email infoeast@elevate208.org or call 208-578-2736.

ParentGuidance.org is website with free online courses and resources for parents and anyone who needs support. There is Parent Coaching, Ask a Therapist and Get Help options as well as specialized courses for your specific needs and support measures. Spanish is available if needed. Again these services are free.

Students, parents, and employees can reach out for help with bullying, harassment, suicidal tendencies, self-harm, threats, or to report weapons at school by going to d93.org/gethelp or sending the text @gethelp to 855-528-0074.

Thank you to our community partners at EIRMC for supporting our D93 Family Update.