BOISE, Idaho — At a meeting on August 12, the Boise School Board voted to convert Owyhee Elementary School into an Early Childhood Learning Center.
In the meeting, the district said the building will be outfitted specifically for 3 to 5 year olds. Dave Wagers, the boards president, said the decision wasn't easy. The transition will take place during the 2025/2026 school year.
The decision will leave some people upset. When the change was first proposed in April of 2024, parents accused the board of not being transparent and sending out misleading information.
As KTVB previously reported, dozens of upset parents voiced their concerns about Boise School District's plan to turn Owyhee Elementary in south Boise into an Early Childhood Learning Center during a heated information meeting in May.
However, the board went ahead with the proposal.
Owyhee Elementary and Early Childhood Learning Center Proposal:
District administration will recommend to the Board on August 12 that in the 2025–2026 school year, Owyhee Elementary School be converted from a traditional K - 6 elementary school to an Early Childhood Learning Center.
Owyhee Elementary remains a PK-6 elementary school for the 2024-2025 school year.
Owyhee's proposed conversion is the next step in the District's plan to more fully support the specific needs of early learners.