Idaho students deserve school facilities that foster learning and are built to last. My IDAHO WORKS plan calls for a HISTORIC investment to modernize and improve our schools while delivering even more property tax relief to Idahoans!
"As the Idaho Legislative Session got underway last week, Gov. Brad Little announced education would continue to be his priority this year.
During his State of the State Address, he introduced a 10-year, $2 billion plan to replace Idaho’s aging public school buildings. It’s a proposal he and his aides have determined is the largest investment in school facilities in state history.
Rep. Rod Furniss, R-Rigby, who represents Jefferson, Fremont, Clark and Lemhi counties, is helping the governor in drafting this bill. For school districts working to pass bonds, Furniss says the state funds would offset that cost and save money for taxpayers.
Breann Green, a member of the Salmon Schools Needs Committee, says the 66-year-old elementary school is at the end of its useful life.
The junior high closed down several years ago because heating the building became too expensive.
A grassroots community effort to build a new sports complex next to the high school was completed in 2021, but attempts to pass a bond for a new elementary school have failed 13 times.
Thanks to the governor’s bill, Green feels confident the bond — which will be on the ballot in May — will finally pass and she’s grateful for his support.
“I’m blown away at what he proposed. I was not expecting that at all,” Green says. “I hope it passes. I don’t know what he’s up against, but it would be amazing for the whole state.”"
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