Ririe School Board Planning Committee
The Ririe School District Five-Year Plan is a forward-looking roadmap designed to enhance educational opportunities and ensure long-term success for all students. Focused on continuous improvement, the plan outlines strategies to advance academic achievement, expand extracurricular participation, and prioritize student safety and well-being. Key initiatives include the construction of modern facilities, like the new Agricultural Building, improving staff retention and professional development, and updating curriculum and classroom resources. In partnership with the community, the district aims to meet evolving needs while upholding its mission of preparing students for the future.
The Ririe School District has a long history of providing high-quality education in partnership with the community. Recently, the district has experienced growth, driven in part by a new housing subdivision under development in the area. This growth underscores the importance of staying informed about changes within the community. To this end, the district is working closely with the City of Ririe to monitor and stay up to date on planning and zoning updates. This collaborative effort ensures the district can effectively adapt to the evolving needs of its students and families, continuing its mission to prepare students for the future.
Site Planning
The Ririe School District is evaluating two potential pathways for future site planning. One approach involves constructing a new high school in phases and situating the new agricultural building alongside it. The alternative focuses on placing the agricultural building adjacent to the existing facility and prioritizing the construction of a new elementary school. A phased approach to high school construction ensures feasibility given the significant costs. Additionally, the district is exploring the possibility of acquiring more property to accommodate future construction needs.
Financial Information
In Idaho, market value refers to the total assessed value of all taxable property within a school district’s boundaries. It serves as a key indicator of the district's financial resources and determines its ability to issue and repay school bonds. A higher market value allows the district to generate more revenue with a smaller tax rate, making bonds more affordable for taxpayers.
Debt capacity is the maximum amount of debt a school district can legally carry, as outlined by state law. In Idaho, this limit is generally 5% of the district’s market value. The debt capacity ensures that districts do not take on more debt than they can reasonably manage, protecting the financial stability of both the district and its taxpayers.
When planning to run a school bond, districts must consider both their market value and available debt capacity. These factors influence the size of the bond they can pursue and the likelihood of voter approval, as the proposed tax rates must be acceptable to the community.
Student Growth
The chart below illustrates the student growth rate in the Ririe School District over the past decade. While the overall growth in student numbers has remained relatively stable, an important trend emerges: the percentage of out-of-district students has declined from a high of 20% to the current level of 11%. This shift indicates that the district is increasingly filling classrooms with students who reside within the Ririe School District boundaries, reflecting strong support from our local community.
Additionally, the chart includes a comparison of building capacity versus enrollment, providing insight into how our facilities accommodate our student population. For a more detailed breakdown of yearly enrollment and to explore this data further, click on the links at the bottom of the page.
