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 to repurpose the school as a way 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.
Trustees of the Coeur d'Alene School District will hold a "Fresh-Air Forum" from 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday at McIntire Family Park, 8930 N. Government Way, Hayden.
It's been at least a dozen years since the Coeur d'Alene School District increased its driver's education fee.
That cost will go from $190 to $265 per student for classes that start after July 1, following Monday's unanimous approving vote by school board trustees at the recommendation of Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Trent Derrick.
“Of the three larger districts in the county, we’re the only one that still maintains a school-based driver’s ed program, and it has been a successful program," Derrick said. "We do have a situation where we’re running it at a deficit right now."
Trustees were in alignment Monday evening, unanimously approving several policies and a land acquisition resolution during a regular meeting of the Coeur d’Alene school board.
It was the third reading for the Student Dress Policy, on which the board focused during its Dec. 4 workshop following several months of input from teachers and students and special efforts by members of the district’s Student Advisory Group.