FAQ

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Question: Why does Emmett High School hold graduation at the Idaho Center and not here in Emmett?

Answer: We hold our graduation at the Idaho Center because it can accommodate the number of people that wish to participate in the ceremonies. A few years ago Emmett held graduation in the High School Gym.  Tickets were provided to graduates for a limited number of family and friends that each graduate could have attend. Because of this many out of town and local families were not able to attend graduation.  In speaking with those that went through this process it was not a good solution for their families or our community. We need to celebrate the success of our students. The total cost of the Idaho Center is $3200.  Even if we held it here we would have some expense in setup and rental charges. We do not hold it on the Football field because we cannot control the weather.

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Question: Why does Emmett School District run two bus schedules; one for Secondary and one for Elementary?

Answer: Running two bus schedules in Emmett has been the practice for many years. We have to “double shift” our buses because we do not have enough buses to do otherwise.  We would have to purchase about 10 more buses to accomplish the routes on one schedule. Years ago all the schools started and ended at the same time. Many buses had to make two trips. Grade school children had to wait up to 45 minutes before they could be picked up and middle school students would wait an hour or more. At the suggestion of the State Department of Education we moved to staggered start and stop times. The cost of adding 10 new buses is about $920,000.  Unfortunately it is not cost effective for our district to make this move.

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Question: It is our understanding that there is apparently “grant” money that is paying for some of these wages.  Is some of our district money a duplication of what is being paid by grant money?

Answer: School Districts are funded through State Funds, Local Property Tax, Federal Funds, and Special Grant Funds.  Most of the grant funds are from Federal programs. By law we cannot use Federal funds to replace (supplant) State or local funds for items that are considered the district’s responsibility.  These funds must be used to supplement programs. They can go to pay salaries. For example, we cannot pay a 3rd grade teacher with federal funds.  We must use these funds to enhance the basic programs of the district. The district does not have funds that duplicate what is being paid by grant funds.  Staff members do not receive double payment from both local funds and grant funds. An example of this is the 21st Century after School Program grant.  This Federal grant pays for the salaries and materials to offer this program.  The funds cannot be used for any other purposes. Without the grant Emmett School District would not offer the program or fund the staff positions associated with the program.  The levy will not affect Federal programs such as the 21st Century after School Program.

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Question: Why does the Emmett School District hire retired staff or administrators?

Answer: We hire some retired teachers or administrators because it saves the district money and we get experienced people to serve our students. A retired person can only work ½ time or less and they receive no benefits. Thus they cost the district less than someone that is not retired. The other advantage is that these individuals put in much more time than what they are paid.  

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Question: How much do we receive from lottery and what happens to it?

Answer: For the current school year we received $145,000 of lottery funds. These funds are spent on maintenance of our school buildings. We are required by law to spend $611,000 on maintenance of student occupied school buildings. Our budgets for all maintenance and operations of our buildings are $1,894,191.

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Question: How have the Bond and Levies been used in the past?

Answer:

1998 Bond to build two elementary schools, Carberry Elementary and Shadow Butte Elementary

2009 Levy $3.4 million over two years ($1.7 million per year). Completed projects:

  • Eliminate the 2008 -2009 deficit and provided for a contingency fund
  • Installed air conditioning at the high school
  • Technology upgrades including new IP phone system
  • Science labs upgrades, additional science equipment and included safety showers as required
  • Remodel and addition for Junior High locker rooms
  • Paving lots at the Junior High

2011 Levy $2 million over two years ($1 million per year).

The purpose of this levy was to cover the short falls from the cuts from the Sate through the Great Recession.

  • Shortfall $1,836,093
  • District Cuts in operations and Staff $887,717
  • Levy $1,000,000

2013 Levy $2.8 million over two years ($1.4 million per year)

  • After the levy failed in May of 2013 we removed the elevator from the budget and reran the levy in August.
  • The major maintenance project was the re-roofing of the domes.

2015 Levy $2.8 million over two years ($1.4 million per year)

Following are the items we used this levy for.  
We purchased the new elementary reading / language arts curriculum the first year and the secondary curriculum the second year.

Item Amount Total

Certified Teachers 5 $281,000

Classified 13 $270,000

Elementary and Secondary Schools Operations $25,000

Classroom Technology Chromebooks, Digital $80,000

School Supplies and Consumables Supplies and Workbooks $136,000

Textbook Replacement Elementary Reading $150,000

Athletic Programs Secondary $50,000

Safety Improvements Doors, Locks, Cameras $75,000

Building Maintenance Projects Schools $334,000

2017 Levy $2.8 million over two years ($1.4 million per year).