Shelley School District Bond Information

 

Based on the conceptual designs, the new high school’s main building (excluding the Career & Technical Education (CTE) area) will be 40,000 square feet larger than the current high school. The new CTE building will be 18,000 square feet larger than the existing one.

This additional space will allow for:

8 more core classrooms and 1 additional science lab

An expanded CTE area, increasing from 3 classrooms and 3 shops to 11 classrooms and 4 shops

A larger auditorium, increasing seating capacity from 200 to 600

Any registered voter may get an absentee ballot by submitting a signed written Absentee Ballot Request Form or by submitting an Absentee Request Online to receive a ballot by mail. The signed request may be mailed, emailed, or faxed to the elections office. Upon receiving your request, a ballot will be mailed to you as soon as one becomes available for each election in which you are eligible to vote. May 9th: Deadline to request an absentee ballot. November 7 at 8pm: deadline to submit absentee ballot. Absentee ballots may be snail mailed, left in dropbox, or submitted face to face.

A bond requires a 66.67% approval rate.

The homeowner's exemption will exempt 50% of the value of your home and up to one acre of land (maximum: $125,000) from property tax. 

The new High School will likely mirror proven designs like Middleton, Owyhee, Ridgevue, Green Canyon, and Ridgeline high schools. This will equate to substantial savings in engineering and architectural design costs.

🟥 Schools with the Least Room to Absorb Growth (At or Over Capacity)

Shelley High School

• Status: Most over capacity of all Shelley schools.

• Key Notes:

  • Has 3 modular buildings.

  • Uses the Westmark building (intended for athletics) as weight class space, two Rooms.

  • No additional classroom capacity remaining.

• Conclusion: Least capacity to grow.

Dean Goodsell Elementary

• Status: Fully utilized, recent expansions already made.

• Key Notes:

  • Every available space is used.

  • Renovated final 2 classrooms, summer 2024.

  • Relocated the school board room to make space for Preschool.

• Conclusion: No further room for expansion without significant restructuring.

Shelley Work-Based Academy

• Status: At full capacity.

• Key Notes:

  • No additional classroom space available.

• Conclusion: Completely full, enrolment is caped.

Sunrise Elementary School

• Status: All rooms currently used.

• Key Notes:

  • Could relocate 2 Title 1 classrooms if absolutely necessary.

  • Would involve repurposing essential support spaces.

• Conclusion: Very limited growth flexibility.

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🟨 Schools with Some Room for Growth (Limited Flexibility)

Stuart Elementary

• Status: Almost full, but has one room available.

• Key Notes:

  • One additional empty room ready for a additional teacher.

  • All other rooms used for Title and SPED.

• Conclusion: Can absorb 1 teacher worth of growth.

Riverview Elementary

• Status: Some convertible space available.

• Key Notes:

  • Has 1 full-size computer lab that could be used for teaching.

  • One additional classroom is ready.

  • Other Title 1 spaces could be transformed but not ideally.

• Conclusion: Can absorb limited growth with trade-offs.

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🟩 School with Most Room to Absorb Growth (Relatively Speaking)

Hobbs Middle School

• Status: Slight excess capacity at present.

• Key Notes:

  • Received a modular with 2 classrooms this year.

  • Currently only 1 is in use; the other is expected to be used next year.

• Conclusion: Slightly more room in the short term, but already planned for full use.

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📌 Final Summary

Top 3 schools with least room to absorb growth:

1. Shelley High School

2. Dean Goodsell Elementary

3. Shelley Work-Based Academy

All other schools have at least minimal flexibility but will require trade-offs like repurposing labs, relocating Title 1 classes, or using up their last available rooms.

 

2040: The current 10 year growth rate is 1.65%. Based on the 2% growth rate per year, there will be no need to add additional class space in the district until 2040.

 

If your age and income meet thresholds this program could reduce your property taxes by $250 to $1,500 on your home and up to one acre of land. More information on this on the State of Idaho Website

 

The following table outlines the projected tax increase from the 2025 tax year to the 2026 tax year, factoring in the homeowner’s exemption:

New HS + CTE/Aud ($78,640,000)

Assessed Value	Exemption	Taxed Value	Per Year	Per Month
$200,000	$100,000	$100,000	$423	$35
$250,000	$125,000	$125,000	$529	$44
$300,000	$125,000	$175,000	$740	$62
$400,000	$125,000	$275,000	$1,163	$97
$500,000	$125,000	$375,000	$1,586	$132
$600,000	$125,000	$475,000	$2,009	$167

 

 

Understanding the Levy Rate Changes
The levy rate will temporarily increase for two years while the March 2021 and Riverview Bonds are still being paid off. Once those bonds are retired in 2028, the levy rate is projected to decrease to 3.80, which is similar to the 3.77 levy rate the district had in 2015.

 

 

In November 2022, the Board of Trustees advertised a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) (Link) for architectural and engineering (A/E) firms for the proposed bond project. The RFQ was published in the Post Register on November 22 and 29, in accordance with state regulations (Newspaper Ad Link).

A selection committee was formed from the Building Committee, consisting of School Board Trustees, community members, and school and district administrators. The committee conducted research, reviewed submitted proposals, and interviewed candidates. Each member independently scored the firms, and the scores were submitted the following day for tallying.

Based on this process, Design West Architects was selected for recommendation to the Board of Trustees. The Board then negotiated a contract with the firm in public meetings. One consideration in the selection was that Design West had previously designed schools with layouts the district was interested in adapting, which could help reduce design costs for the overall project. (Link to A/E and CM/GC Contract)

The selection process for a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) (Link) followed the same timeline and procedures as the selection of the architectural and engineering (A/E) firm. The Board of Trustees advertised a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for CM/GC services, and a selection committee—comprised of School Board Trustees, community members, and school and district administrators—reviewed proposals, conducted interviews, and scored candidates. Based on this process, Bateman-Hall was selected and recommended to the Board of Trustees, which then negotiated a contract in public meetings.

The district chose the CM/GC process because it allows the selected contractor to manage the project while ensuring that all aspects, such as cabinetry, flooring, and electrical work, are competitively bid. The CM/GC solicits bids from local contractors who hold public works licenses, following Idaho’s bidding requirements for each phase of the project. This ensures a competitive and transparent process while maintaining oversight and cost control.

When the new high school opens (projected for August 2029), the current 7th and 8th graders will move into the existing high school building. The district, in collaboration with the community, will determine whether Hobbs Middle School will become a dedicated 6th-grade school or if elementary school grade levels will be restructured to utilize the space.

The building will continue to be used, but light renovations—including updates to the kitchen, hallways, restrooms, and office—may be necessary. Depending on the scope of these renovations, the transition into the repurposed Hobbs Middle School may be delayed by up to a year after the new high school is completed.

No, there are no current or projected plans to demolish any school buildings in the district. All schools have been assessed and deemed structurally sound. The district intends to continue utilizing its existing facilities.

The district's schools vary in age and have undergone renovations and upgrades over the years to maintain functionality and efficiency. Below is a summary of each facility’s condition:

• Dean Goodsell Elementary (PK-K) – Originally built in 1964, with additions in the 1970s. The original structure was replaced in 1998. A $2.2 million renovation was completed following the March 2021 bond.

• Sunrise Elementary (1-2) – Built in 2004 after the original Shelley High School (which later became the junior high) burned down in 2002. As a newer building, it has required only minor upgrades, including HVAC, roofing, and lighting improvements, funded by the March 2021 bond and school modernization funds.

• Riverview Elementary (3-4) – The district’s newest school, built in 2010. Minor HVAC upgrades have been completed, and there are plans for future roofing improvements.

• Hazel Stuart Elementary (5-6) – Built in 1977, with a major renovation in 2008 that upgraded electrical and HVAC systems. The district plans to upgrade restrooms and lighting using modernization funds.

• Hobbs Middle School (7-8) – The majority of the building was constructed in 1967, with additions in 1975 and 2008. The shop area, originally built in the 1940s, was renovated and reoccupied for junior high use in 2023 with funds from the March 2021 bond. Additional upgrades, including HVAC and roofing improvements, have also been completed. Future projects in the district’s 10-year plan include restroom and plumbing upgrades, new flooring, and insulation improvements. Some of these projects are on hold until the district finalizes plans for the future use of Hobbs Middle School.

• Shelley High School (9-12) – Originally built in 1991 for grades 10-12, with expansions in 2001 to accommodate 9th grade after the junior high fire. As a steel-built structure, it has required significant maintenance and repairs. Recent improvements include a complete restroom plumbing overhaul in 2024, funded by state modernization funds, as well as HVAC, roofing, and flooring upgrades over the past five years.

• Shelley Work-Based Academy (Alternative High School, 10-12) – Purchased by the district in 2022, this facility was originally built in the 1970s. It has undergone some upgrades and is in good condition. Upon purchase, the district upgraded the HVAC system to improve efficiency and comfort.

The district remains committed to maintaining and improving its facilities through strategic planning and available funding sources.

The Shelley School District used the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to select both the Architectural/Engineering (A/E) team and the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) for the Shelley High School Bond project. This approach ensures we choose partners based on expertise, experience, and alignment with our goals—not just the lowest cost.

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What is the RFQ Process?

An RFQ is a formal process that invites firms to submit their qualifications to work on a project. The district then evaluates submissions and selects the most qualified teams based on clear criteria such as:

• Past experience with school construction

• Professional credentials and staffing

• Understanding of educational design

• Communication and collaboration style

• Record of delivering bond-funded projects

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Why It Matters

This process ensures:

• ✅ We select the best-fit partners to design and build the new high school.

• ✅ We protect taxpayer investment by emphasizing quality and accountability.

• ✅ We follow Idaho law, which requires public entities to use a qualifications-based process for selecting design and construction services.

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CM/GC Advantage

By using a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) model, the district benefits from:

• Early collaboration between the contractor and architect

• Better cost control through pre-construction estimates

• Fewer surprises during construction

• A Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the project

This model allows us to build smarter, faster, and with fewer risks.

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Transparent and Strategic

The RFQ process follows Idaho Code § 67-2320 and reflects the district’s commitment to:

• Transparency

• Fiscal responsibility

• High-quality educational facilities

We’re proud to be taking a thoughtful, professional approach to every phase of this bond project.

See our Operations Page for a detailed list.