Caldwell Schools Board Report

This update is intended to provide information on Board decisions, as well as school and community events.

Starting next school year, students attending public school in Idaho will now be eligible for $4,625 to use toward overload courses. That is an increase of $500 from the pervious school year.

Funding is available to use towards overload courses, dual credits, postsecondary credit-bearing exams, career technical certification exams, CTE workforce training courses, college entrance exams, and preliminary college entrance exams. Every public school student in grades 7-12 is allocated $4,625.00 for these purposes.

Advanced Opportunities allow for students to individualize their high school learning plan to get a jump start on their future. These options include dual credit, workforce training, certification exams, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate programs.

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Caldwell School District voters will be asked to vote on the renewal of the existing Supplemental Levy of $4.1 million per year for two years. The levy helps provide funds for District operations that are not fully covered by state funding. Supplemental Levies are common in Idaho school districts. At least, 92 out of 115 school districts rely on Supplemental Levy funding.

The levy is used to preserve class sizes and continue the high-quality educational programs that make our schools a great choice for students in Caldwell. This includes daily operations like transportation costs, building maintenance, instructional technology, and curricular resources. The Supplemental Levy also supports school safety including School Resource Officers, safe school aides, and school health aides. It is also used to fund student athletics and co-curricular activities which includes athletic transportation costs, coaching and advisor stipends, equipment, and student organizations. For the District to attract and retain highly qualified classified employees, the District must also be able to offer competitive wages as well. Classified staff are crucial for implementing our educational programs.

The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the proposed levy is a tax of $41.11 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, 2024; that levy currently costs $41.11 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. Therefore, if the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,00 of taxable assessed value is not expected to change.

Running a Supplemental Levy in May allows the Caldwell School District to accurately create a budget. If the Supplemental Levy does not pass, the Caldwell School Board will be forced to cut $4.1 million from the budget. This could mean the reduction or elimination of some programs and staff which benefit students.

Early voting will be held at the Caldwell Elks Lodge and the Nampa Cultural Center. You can vote early May 6th - May 17th, between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, Monday-Friday. Polling locations will also be open from 8 am to 8 pm on Election Day, May 21, 2024. You can register to vote on Election Day. You can register to vote, request an absentee ballot, view your ballot, and find your local polling station by clicking here.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Starting in preschool and Kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
• Students can still fall behind if they miss just 1 or 2 days every few weeks.
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
• Absences and tardiness can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school--and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Eventually good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and college.

Please join us for our next Regular Board Meeting on Monday, May 13, 2024. Meetings are held at the Caldwell School District Office, Vernon DeMark Board Room, 1502 Fillmore St. Caldwell Idaho, 83605 at 7:00 pm. If you can't attend in person, the meeting will be live streamed on the District's YouTube page.