NAMPA, Idaho — This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press on Jan. 16, 2024.
The Nampa School Board came out of the gates strong Tuesday afternoon during its first meeting of the year. The long board meeting included considerations of saving costs and adapting to the anticipated closures of four district schools.
In tow, two new trustees join the board.
“It is not an easy time for new trustees to come in the middle of a school year, particularly in the year we’re having,” Superintendent Gregg Russell said. “(But) it always comes back to serving the kids.”
Trustees Stephanie Binns and David Jennings were sworn in during this first meeting of the year, following their elections into trustee zones 1 and 2.
“I want to thank everyone who’s here,” Binns said. “Because you’re here supporting education.”
Jennings thanked those who supported him on the campaign trail.
“It means a lot to see all the support we have,” Jennings said.
Binns and Jennings filled the seats of former trustees Mandy Simpson and Marco Valle.
A unanimous vote among trustees reappointed Chair Brook Taylor and Vice Chair Jeff Kirkman to continue leading in their positions as the most-senior members of the board.
HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE SHIFT
One way the district is considering cutting costs is changing the high school schedule.
“High school changes are going to be hard, because it’s something everyone has an opinion about,” Deputy Superintendent Waylon Yarbrough said.
Nampa’s high schools currently run on an A/B block schedule where students alternate between eight total courses — taking four one day and the other four the next day for the entire semester. This schedule has been in place for almost 25 years.
According to the district’s recent study of the schedule, inefficiencies of the schedule have resulted in financial challenges. Overall, the current schedule was determined to be expensive.
On a block schedule, teachers have 82 minutes of prep time each day. With a seven-period day, teachers would have closer to 50 minutes instead, spending more time instructing students.
Yarbrough said research done on other institutions have shown a negligible difference in student success rates between block schedules and daily schedules.
“While it does have impacts, and we by no means want to minimize those impacts to the student day … there is a reality that we cannot stay on the current A/B block in a fiscally responsible way,” Yarbrough said.
A survey was sent to district staff, students and parents, receiving nearly 2,900 responses. The survey included potential changes, gauging respondents’ support.
Proposed changes are intended to maintain proper staffing levels, reducing the need for teaching hours.
While not limited to these options, proposals include switching to two semesters of seven-period days, or six-period days in trimesters.
“This is part of the mitigation strategy the district has been looking at,” Russell said about cost savings.
Currently, courses are broken up into 82-minute blocks, allowing students to get ample face time with teachers. But, trustees noted that having the same classes every day allows students to see their teachers more often.
Students have continued to speak against potential schedule changes at board meetings.
“All this will do is hurt your high school students,” Nampa High junior Jasmin Bly wrote to the board.
The potential of switching to trimesters instead of the traditional two-semester calendar was rated poorly by teachers on the survey due to grading schedules.
Trustee Jason Su said that, rather than a welcomed change, the cost-saving measures were a matter of survival.
“We’re not trying to save money in the terms that at the end of the year we’ll have a million dollars sitting around,” Su said. “We need to get out and talk to the Legislature. Our schools are chronically underfunded, our teachers are poorly paid, our facilities are not where they should be.”
A separate consideration is to cut the school week down to four days. Russell said 80% of staff surveyed were in support of a four-day schedule.
While this would save money, that is not the goal.
“I want to be very clear, the four-day work week is not about saving financially,” Yarbrough said.
Instead, Yarbrough described it as a recruitment tool and morale booster.
“That’s one more pro for being in the district,” Yarbrough said. “It allows that piece of, ‘hey, we have this bargaining chip.’”
NSD Director of Media Relations Kathleen Tuck clarified over email that switching to a four-day schedule doesn't necessarily equate to four days of work. Switching to a four-day week could leave a day without classes that teachers could utilize for meetings, preparation and other work.
With the current schedule, teachers teach six out of eight blocks — three of four each day on the rotating schedule — with the remaining time used for prep. While teachers working seven blocks instead of six instead would be beneficial, Yarbrough believed such a change would harm morale.
As further considerations are made, daily schedule changes will be made first, then a four-day week may be considered.
“One thing that could be beneficial to staff and keep them thinking about staying in our district would be moving to something like a four-day school week,” Russell said.
REDRAWING BOUNDARIES
Tracy Ritcher, vice president of planning services at Hoar Program Management, is heading the process of determining new boundaries after the closure of four Nampa schools. This will determine where students will be enrolled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
“Boundaries don’t last for life,” Ritcher said.
A committee will be formed of staff and parents, with participants selected by a lottery system. Applications for the committee will open on Jan. 22. The hope is to have a mixed group of participants with varying experiences.
A recommendation will be made the week of March 18, followed by a final decision.
The following points are likely to be considered as criteria for established boundaries: Assigning whole neighborhoods to the same school, safe and reasonable walking zones, minimizing impacts on specialized programs, considering projected student enrollment and keeping socio-economic balance among schools.
Though, Ritcher said in some cases, one criteria can contradict another. These points are meant to be guiding principles rather than requirements.
The impact on students currently open enrolled or planning to open enroll is uncertain, with the application process unclear without established zones.
“We don’t have boundaries yet, so we don’t know what to tell people,” NSD Director of Operations Cortney Stauffer said. “I think we have to wait till the process is completed.”
According to current enrollment, an estimated 1,500 students will have to be relocated to new schools.
AFFORDING MAINTENANCE
Updating the board on recent developments in the state, Russell discussed Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s plan to invest $200 million annually into facilities statewide. Meanwhile, the NSD needs $120 million just to construct a new Nampa High School.
“Does it help? Not necessarily when you look at $200 million for the entire state … but it’s a step in the right direction. A small step,” Russell said.
As of now, Russell said the district does not know what the structure of these funds will look like.
Moving forward with plans to decommission buildings and reutilize others, Stauffer provided updates on the district’s work with a construction management group.
“One of the other things that is unique about this is the timing,” Stauffer said. “When we have a project (like) this that is very time sensitive — these buildings need to be ready by August.”
This includes fire systems that will need to be updated at the current Snake River Elementary and West Middle School buildings.
By working with the construction management group, Stauffer said it would help with any concerns of supply chain issues increasing costs.
“We are still managing quite a few other projects at the same time,” Stauffer said about building maintenance.
Addressing the multitude of changes coming this year, Russell acknowledged the position of staff.
“Many of the things we’re doing as a district is very hard on our staff,” Russell said. “Closing schools is difficult on our staff, redrawing boundaries is difficult on staff, changing high school schedules that have been around for 25 years is difficult on staff.”
This story has been updated to clarify what a four-day schedule may look like for teachers.
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.
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