COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — A budget shortfall could cause the closure of an elementary school in the Coeur d’Alene school district.
According to the Coeur d’Alene Public School District, the district is facing a budget shortfall because of less state funding, lower enrollment and increased costs to keep the schools running. As a result, the district will face a $6 million deficit next year.
One of the ideas brainstormed to find a solution is to close Borah Elementary School, which has been open for over 70 years. Dr. Shon Hocker, the superintendent of Coeur d’Alene schools, says he wants to keep the building open because it could be needed a few years down the road if the population increases.
Other ideas include cutting 65 jobs within the school district and adopting a 160-day calendar.
“The budget shortfall directly impacts our ability to maintain and improve educational programs, support services, and facilities,” said the Coeur d’Alene School District in a release to address the budget shortfall. “The difficult decisions we will make will impact staffing levels, class sizes, how many schools we have, programming, and school week schedules, for example. District staff presented a set of recommendations to reduce $6 million in expenditures at a workshop on April 11, 2024.”
