BOISE, Idaho — The superintendent of Payette School District announced Tuesday that the district is moving forward on consolidating schools, due to a decline in enrollment.
Dr. Glen Croft, superintendent of Payette School District, announced that the Board of Trustees unanimously voted 5-0 in favor of moving 4th-grade students to Payette Primary School, and move the 5th-grade students to a shared hallway in McCain Middle School, sharing with the 6th-graders. The change will go into effect for the 2024-25 school year.
According to the press release, Payette School District has seen a gradual decline in student enrollment over the past decade. Due to this, there is more capacity available at Payette Primary School and McCain Middle School.
The goal of the consolidation is to transition students from Westside Elementary to either Payette Primary or McCain Middle, so resources can be allocated more appropriately. Instead of allocating funds to three schools, they would allocate funds to two.
"We started this process in February to give us plenty of time to plan and prepare for the next school year. This decision has been approached with careful consideration, recognizing the impact on students, families, staff, student safety, and community engagement throughout the process. We have put our best efforts into listening to the community and taken care to create the precautionary steps that are necessary to separate our 5th and 6th-grade from our 7th and 8th grade students," Croft said in the press release.
Croft continued by saying, "Westside has a rich history of dedicated staff who have provided and exceptional education for our students. I would like to honor that past while still looking forward to the future. While change can be challenging, I am excited for the future as we move forward. I have complete confidence in our ability to adapt and thrive during this transition period."
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