Each spring, we ask parents, employees and students to participate in our annual engagement surveys. The information that we receive back from these surveys helps us to monitor our progress on our key indicators and to set focus priorities for the coming school year.

• Parent Engagement Survey is now available to take at d93.org/parent_engagement. We would love to hear back from you.
• Student Engagement Surveys will be available for students from May 5th - May 15th. Parents may preview the survey and if they prefer, choose whether to have their children withdraw from the survey or take the survey.at home instead. Note: You will need to log into the student survey using your child's school Gmail address.

Thunder Ridge's wrestling coach, Jody Webb introduced Onyx Kunsaitis, a sophomore at Thunder Ridge High School, as the IHSAA State Wrestling Champion in the 144-pound weight class. Last year, as a freshman, he placed fourth in the state at 132 pounds, which is especially impressive given the difficulty of those weight classes. Known for his humility, work ethic, and strong family support, Onyx puts in time both during the season and in the offseason, recently earning All-American honors at the Folkstyle Nationals in Iowa. He proudly represents his school and district with class and enjoys competing at a high level against top talent from across the country.

Austin Reeves, a student-athlete from Hillcrest High School, was recognized by his coach Ian Moore for his outstanding achievements both academically and athletically. He maintained strong grades while taking challenging classes and showed exceptional leadership. This year, Austin won a state championship in football as the starting center and went undefeated to become a state wrestling champion. Despite facing both physical and mental challenges throughout the season, he remained focused and resilient. Austin credited his success to his coaches, training partners, family, and faith, highlighting the importance of teamwork and dedication. He shared that wrestling's mental toughness was the hardest part but pushed through with perseverance.

The Thunder Ridge High School Student Council presented a report highlighting their leadership, service, and community engagement throughout the school year. The council completed a variety of projects, including:

• Service Projects: School clean-ups, hot chocolate giveaways, trick-or-treat events, teacher appreciation gifts, and volunteer work like helping with janitorial tasks and organizing community races.

• Unity Projects: Pep assemblies, student vs. teacher basketball games, Freshman Friday recognitions, and spirit-boosting activities like game nights and student section enhancements.

• Fundraising: Creative efforts like date auctions, senior sweatshirt sales, thrift sales, and food concessions supported school events and charitable causes such as Adopt-a-Family.

• Leadership Involvement: A student represented the school as a regional president on the Idaho State Student Council Association, organizing conferences and promoting inter-school collaboration.

• Upcoming Initiatives: The council is planning end-of-year celebrations, recognition for underrepresented student groups (like the baseball team), and legacy gifts from seniors to incoming students.

The Bonneville High School Student Council presented a detailed report to the board, highlighting a wide range of activities and accomplishments throughout the school year. They worked hard to foster school spirit, unity, and community involvement.

• Decorations & Spirit Events: Each class decorated hallways for events like Homecoming and Christmas. They also led assemblies and spirit games to boost student engagement.

• Major Events: Homecoming and prom were major undertakings, requiring extensive planning, decorating, and teamwork. The council also organized a senior sunrise, senior sunset, graduation planning, and a senior all-night party.

• Community Service & Appreciation: They hosted appreciation weeks for teachers and counselors, conducted a blood drive, adopted families during the holidays, and organized a prom for special needs students.

• Fundraising & Student Engagement: Fundraisers like "Star Soda" and dodgeball tournaments helped fund activities. They also initiated inclusive programs like the StuCo Representative Program for students who weren’t elected but still wanted to participate.

• Leadership & Growth: Student leaders worked to strengthen council unity through monthly bonding and discussion sessions. They also improved communication with administration through regular meetings.

• State Recognition: The council attended the state student leadership conference, where they won prestigious awards including the OSC Award and Spirit Stick, showcasing their dedication and excellence.

Jared Dotson was officially recommended and accepted as the new principal of Rocky Mountain Middle School, following the reassignment of former principal Scott Thunstrom. Jared has served as assistant principal at Rocky Mountain for the past four and a half years, during which he played a key role in leading professional learning communities, supporting both student-focused and content area teams, and implementing innovative behavior support strategies. The selection process included input from parents and teachers, and Jared was praised for his strong leadership, dedication, and outstanding performance. His appointment reflects the district's commitment to fostering a positive school culture and attracting high-quality leaders.

Welcome to D93...Matt Houser was officially recommended and approved as the new assistant principal at Hillcrest High School. He brings extensive experience, having previously served as the dean of students at Idaho Falls High School, and is currently the assistant principal at Eagle Rock Middle School. His enthusiasm for education, commitment to students and staff, and strong leadership background were praised. The selection process drew 39 highly qualified applicants, reflecting the district’s strong reputation. Matt expressed gratitude to his family and looks forward to contributing to Hillcrest’s continued success.

Heath Ferguson was recommended and unanimously approved as the new assistant principal at Thunder Ridge High School. Currently a social studies teacher at Hillcrest High School, Heath was selected from a competitive pool of 39 applicants and stood out during the interview process for his preparation, professionalism, and thoughtful engagement with the committee. His dedication to education and leadership was clear, as he is completing his master’s degree while working full-time and raising a family. Heath expressed deep gratitude to his family and colleagues, and shared his excitement to step into this long-time goal and to serve the Thunder Ridge community in a leadership role.

In a deeply moving report, Rex Miller, Director of Federal Programs, and Wendy Landon, Director of Special Education shared the powerful story behind the numbers in our federal and special education programs. These aren’t just statistics—they represent our most vulnerable students: those experiencing poverty, trauma, homelessness, foster care, or navigating school in a new language and culture.

They spoke passionately about how Title I, Migrant, English Learner, and Special Education programs are lifelines for children in crisis. These initiatives place "everyday angels"—teachers, paraprofessionals, and counselors—in classrooms to support students who need stability, understanding, and belief in their potential.

The report highlighted the growing needs: increases in English learners, migrant students, and those facing housing insecurity. And while funding helps, it’s the people—those who show up for these kids every day—who make the difference. With heartfelt gratitude, Rex and Wendy thanked the Board for providing the foundation to make this work possible, calling them the first link in a chain of care and opportunity.

Amid looming federal funding uncertainties, the report emphasized the urgency of strategizing for the future, ensuring no child is left behind because of budget constraints. As Rex said, “These kids need people. They need adults in their lives who believe in them.”

Their message was clear: we don’t just fund programs—we build futures, heal trauma, and change lives, one child at a time.

The Board and Superintendent Woolstenhulme held a detailed discussion about boundary planning in preparation for the opening of Willow Creek Elementary in 2026. A major point of consideration was whether to relocate—a program currently limited in its growth potential due to space constraints—into Ammon Elementary's building. This move could reduce the need for future boundary disruptions and better utilize existing space.

Three key benefits of relocating Praxium to Ammon were identified:

1. Increased student choice and opportunity for expansion into higher grades.

2. Efficient use of facilities, especially amid flat overall enrollment but overcrowding in modular classrooms.

3. Cost savings, with a projected $50,000 offset from the larger facility and shared staffing resources.

Survey results showed majority of support from both staff (71%) and parents (57%), with some opposition rooted in the historical and emotional significance of Ammon Elementary and concerns about community disruption, traffic, and transparency. The district emphasized that the building would not be closed but repurposed, continuing to serve students.

The emotional impact on Ammon Faculty, who have built strong bonds through years of service and challenges, was acknowledged with deep respect. The board agreed to host a public input meeting on April 21 at Ammon Elementary, allowing the community and the Ammon and Praxium faculties to share their thoughts directly before a final decision is made by the end of the school year.

We would like to share the results from a recent survey conducted with staff and families regarding priorities for boundary changes in preparation for the opening of Willow Creek Elementary. After reviewing the survey findings with school principals, Dr. Woolstenhulme presented the following priorities to the School Board:

1. Student Safety

• Ensure safe walking routes and minimize the need for students to cross major roads.

2. Balance Socioeconomic Distribution

• Maintain a reasonable balance of low-income and special education students across all schools.

3. Longevity

• Establish boundaries that will serve the district effectively for at least 7–10 years, taking into account population trends and new developments.

4. Community Bonds

• Foster the creation of neighborhood schools, minimize isolated "islands," and align with secondary school boundaries whenever possible.

The School Board also discussed the challenges of aligning elementary boundaries with middle and high schools. While this alignment would provide continuity, it could disrupt the district's socioeconomic diversity. There is a concern that wealthier students may be concentrated in the newest school, Thunder Ridge, while lower-income students may be placed elsewhere. District leaders believe that preserving balance and equity must take priority.

Additionally, the Board acknowledged community concerns regarding open enrollment, class sizes, and the impact of specialized programs like Praxium and Technical Careers High School. These programs serve students across the district and may further influence the relevance of boundary decisions.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement as we navigate these important changes together.

TCHS students put their skills to the test and came out on top at this year’s SkillsUSA competition! We’ve got highlights from the event at CWI in Nampa—including a second-place finish in Collision Repair by Hayleigh Mendes and a first-place win in Additive Manufacturing by Maverick West and Trevor Cramer.

Plus, see how the Mountain America Center is teaming up with the Ucon PTO and other local nonprofits to make a real difference in our community.

All that and more—this week on D93 News!

The D93 Extra Mile Award celebrates those whose hard work and positive attitudes make a significant impact on our students, staff, and community. Thanks to our amazing friends at Rusty Taco, we’ll be recognizing those who go above and beyond with this special award! 🌮🙌

Registration is now open for Pine Basin Summer Camp. The camp is for students who have completed 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. The week's of the camp are:

Week 1 - June 9-13

Week 2 - June 16-20

Week 3 - June 23-27

Week 4 - July 7-11

Week 5 - July 14-18

Week 6 - July 21-25

The cost of the camp is $265.00. You can find more information about registration and the camp by clicking the button below.

Pine Basin is also offering summer camps for our upper grades. The camp is for 7th-12th grade students. Not only is the camp fun, your student can earn high school science credit at the same time. The week's the camp are running are the following:

Week 1: July 28th - August 1

Week 2: August 4-8

The cost of this camp is $265.00.

Please click the button below for more information and to register.

From Idaho’s groundbreaking Direct Admissions program to a simplified scholarship application process, our state is making it easier than ever for students to pursue education and career training after graduation.

Join us for an informative session designed to walk parents through these powerful state initiatives. You'll leave feeling confident, informed, and ready to help your student take the next step toward their future.

🗓 April 23
🕕 6:00–7:00 p.m.
📍 EIRMC – Yellowstone Classroom
(Medical Office Building west of the ER, 2860 Channing Way)
💵 Free to attend!
🔗 Register at: Calendar | Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center | Idaho Falls, ID

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