The Boise Area is Booming. Here’s How Local School Districts are Handling Growth Boise School District, West Ada plan for new school construction projects
Boise School District used funding from a $172 million bond measure to pay for renovations for Pierce Park Elementary School.
T
PHOTO CREDIT: BOISE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
he Boise School District began in 1881 and predates Idaho’s statehood by nine years. While its buildings were not that
By Peter Jensen
Originally built in 1977-78, Amity Elementary School received a renovation project that eliminated the need for portable classes on the school campus, and brought all students, teachers, and staff under one roof. PHOTO CREDIT: BOISE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
never before, the Boise School District
being approved at city halls throughout
is relying on a mix of major renovations
the Treasure Valley will influence the
and new development projects to handle
districts’ future plans. In the Boise School
an expected influx in student enrollment.
District, affordable housing will be an
In the West Ada School District,
important issue, spokesman Dan Hollar
old, the district still had a number of
administrators
board
said. The district is planning to build
facilities whose birthdates would appear
members are handling growth in a similar
a new elementary school in the Harris
similar to members of the baby boomer
fashion, using a mix of major renovation
Ranch area, which is currently in the
generation — or older generations.
projects and new school development,
design phase.
Retirement is a burgeoning trend
spokeswoman
“Plans are in place to add new
Charalee Jackson. The district just opened
residential housing in southwest Boise,”
option for the Boise School District.
a new high school in Meridian, Owyhee
Hollar wrote in an email. “And growth is
Instead, in recent years several of its
High School, at the start of the 2021-22
expected to continue in the Harris Ranch
school buildings have received major
school year. A new elementary school in
area, hence the need for a new elementary
renovations that are breathing new life
northwest Meridian called Pleasant View
school there. As home prices increase,
into them as they accommodate new
Elementary is now in its second year of
adding
generations of students. And with the
existence.
housing to support our young families
26 BUILDING IDAHO • 2021 FALL/WINTER
to
district
school
among boomers, but that wasn’t an
population booming in the Boise area as
according
and
The pace of development projects
and
supporting
affordable
moving into the Boise area and enrolling
