T.F. School District Approves New Attendance Zones

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX) – Twin Falls School District trustees unanimously approved two proposals for school attendance zone changes that will affect nearly 1,000 students.

The proposals were approved without any discussion at the school board meeting Wednesday evening at Canyon Ridge High School.

“We’ve already reviewed them three times,” said Chairman Bernie Jansen.

Changes in the attendance zones were prompted by three new schools the district plans to open in the area – Rock Creek and Pillar Falls elementary schools this fall, and South Hills Middle School in fall 2017.

The new schools are needed, the district has said, due to population growth and overcrowding at existing schools.

Enrollment in the district has increased by more than 9.9 percent since 2011, according to the state’s official enrollment tallies, while statewide enrollment grew by less than 2.6 percent over the same time period. Twin Falls residents passed a $73.8 million bond for the schools in March 2014.

A 26-member committee was formed last fall to evaluate possible zones, get feedback from the community, and review residents’ suggestions. The final proposals – one affecting elementary school students, the other middle schoolers – was presented to the school board in mid-December, followed by three community meetings in January.

Feedback from parents has been mostly positive, said Eva Craner, spokeswoman for the school district.

Jansen said the trustees appreciate the hard work the committee members put into formulating the proposals.

The district will publish the approved zones in non-draft form on its website on Thursday.