'We're so sorry:' Borah Elementary to close
From left, Coeur d'Alene Superintendent Shon Hocker, Board Chair Rebecca Smith and Trustees Lesli Bjerke and Heather Tenbrink discuss the decision to close Borah Elementary School during Monday's special meeting. The board unanimously voted to move ahead with repurposing the school to help correct the district's projected $6 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2025.
DEVIN WEEKS/Press
COEUR d'ALENE — Borah Elementary School's days are numbered.
Tears were wiped from faces and sniffles could be heard Monday evening as trustees of the Coeur d'Alene School District unanimously voted to accept a recommendation from district staff to repurpose the school. The move is expected to save the district money as it addresses an expected $6 million shortfall for fiscal year 2025.
"We're heartbroken, obviously," fifth grade teacher Teresa Armstrong, who is in her 16th year at Borah, said after the meeting.
"It impacts a lot of people," she said, "not just people that are in the school currently, but the teachers that have taught there most of their careers previously and the community, people that have gone there not only now but over the years."
It will also affect the neighborhood and the nearby retirement homes often visited by Borah students, she said.
"We have to remember, it's not just us," Armstrong said. "A lot of people are feeling this."
It was with heavy hearts the board voted to repurpose Borah at the start of the 2024-25 school year, a motion tearfully put forth by Trustee Heather Tenbrink.
"I know how I would feel about this as a parent, and I can imagine how I would feel about it as a staff member," she said, her voice catching.
"We're so sorry," Trustee Jimmy McAndrew said as he looked out from the dais to the cluster of Borah teachers attending the special meeting.
Although the budget is not finalized, the wheels are now in motion to make Borah the new home of the Coeur d'Alene Early Learning Center with possibilities for child care services for staff. Borah students will be distributed among neighboring schools including Fernan STEM Academy, Bryan Elementary, Ramsey Magnet School of Science, Winton Elementary and Dalton Elementary.
Repurposing Borah is expected to save the district more than $1 million.
Shannon Johnston, the district's finance director, reminded trustees they were approving recommendations, not the final budget.
"A lot's going to shake out within the next couple weeks," she said. "In June, you will be approving the budget, so keep that in mind, too. If things do look a little better, then we can revisit."
Trustees were unanimous in their votes to have administration draft a five-day calendar for the upcoming school year with modifications from the district's calendar committee regarding the district's Professional Learning Community work. The calendar will be presented at the board's May 13 meeting.
The board also unanimously approved a revised version of budget reductions that include the repurposing of one elementary school and staff cuts, as well as reductions to the building budget, extracurricular activities and more.
The Coeur d'Alene School Board will next meet at 5 p.m. May 13 at the Midtown Center Meeting Room, 1505 N. Fifth St., Coeur d'Alene.
Info: cdaschools.org