Submitted by Ken Watts
Ken’s Korner supports education, especially science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. STEM education is critical to the prosperity of our country. Fremont County Joint School District #215 is proposing a 20 year, $59,980,000 school bond. The vote on this bond will occur on March 14, 2023. The total payoff cost for this bond is estimated to be $83,507,800 if the interest rate is 3.73%. $46,790, 942 (78%) of the bond is designated for South Fremont High School improvements and expansion. This includes the following: 999 seat auditorium, ticket office, drama classroom, dressing and restroom facility, auxiliary gym with full court sidelines, wrestling room with mats, laundry, renovated weight room, career technical education section featuring classrooms, welding, wood shops, etc., family consumer science, renovation to art, special education, kitchen, and resource rooms, entrance/administrative offices, counseling offices, secure vestibule, and security office. In Ashton, $5,803,431 would be spent for career technical education (vocational education) at the North Fremont High School and other improvements. $6,207,450 would be spent for a multipurpose gym at the Henry’s Fork Elementary School. Therefore a total of $12,010,881 (20%) would be spent in North Fremont. $1,178,177 (2%) is allocated for miscellaneous expenditures (HVAC,ADA, electrical). 0% (none) would be spent to support the Island Park charter school ( a premiere school in the state). It is estimated that the bond will cost property owners $137 per year per $100,000 of assessed property value. In Island Park, small homes are selling for ~$300K, midsized homes are selling for $500K, and larger homes are selling for $1M or more. Therefore the annual assessment would be $411, $685, and $1,370 respectively. Over the 20 year term of the bond, the cost would be $8,220, $13,700, and $27,400 respectively. Some people estimate that Island Park would pay 60 to 70% of the bond costs. This is similar to property taxes. Are Island Park property owners being treated fairly when only 20% of the funding will be spent in North Fremont while 78% will be spent in South Fremont and none in Island Park? Let’s consider the language in the ballot. The ballot does not reveal that a large portion of the funds will be expended on 999 seat auditorium, two gyms, a renovated weight room, a wrestling room, administration offices, etc. This is important information for the voters. It is excellent that funding will be spent on career technical education (vocational education). These are skills that are desperately needed in Idaho and the nation. STEM should be the focus of this bond.
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