Superintendent's Community Update
Dear District Families and Community Members,
Thank you for your ongoing support of our schools, students, and staff. Recently, there have been questions regarding the $750,000 requested for staffing in our upcoming supplemental levy. I would like to take this opportunity to provide clarity on how our district staffing works, how positions are funded, and why this support is critical to maintaining our current educational quality.
Understanding Staffing Roles & Costs
Within a school district, our team is divided into two primary employee categories:
Certified Employees: Positions requiring certification from the State of Idaho, which includes our teachers, administrators, and counselors.
Classified Staff: Vital support roles across our facilities, including custodians, maintenance personnel, office staff, IT support, paraprofessionals (paras), and lunch staff.
Below is a breakdown of the average compensation costs per employee type within our district, including salary and employer-provided benefits:
Employee Category | Average Salary | Average Benefits | Total Average Cost |
Certified Staff (Teachers, Admins, Counselors) | $77,425 | $30,604 | $108,029 |
Classified Staff (Support, Maintenance, IT, Paras, Secretaries, Lunch) | $36,281 | $21,719 | $58,000 |
State Funding vs. District Staffing Needs
State funding allocations do not fully cover the operational staffing required to serve our student population effectively:
Certified Teachers: Currently, the State of Idaho funds 59 teaching positions for our district. However, to maintain appropriate class sizes and course offerings, we actually employ 67 teachers.
Classified Staff: Similarly, our district employs more classified support personnel than state funding provides.
Why the $750,000 Levy Request is Necessary
The $750,000 requested for staffing directly addresses this state funding gap. These funds allow us to maintain our current staffing levels so our students continue to receive the attention, instruction, and support services they deserve.
Strategic Planning & Community Survey
In addition to our levy and budget planning, our school district is actively gathering input from all stakeholders to assist in our strategic planning process. We want to ensure that our future goals reflect the shared vision and priorities of our entire community.
A survey is now available for all community members—including parents, guardians, local residents, business owners, and district staff. We strongly encourage everyone to take a few minutes to share your feedback and help guide the future direction of our schools. You can take the survey through the link below.
Next Steps & Budget Planning
Following the conclusion of the upcoming legislative session, the School Board will hold budget work sessions to review final state allocations. During these work sessions, the Board will evaluate our overall budget and make decisions for the upcoming school year.
We deeply appreciate your engagement and commitment to our local schools. Please feel free to reach out to the district office if you have any further questions.
Warm regards,
Angie Oparnico
Superintendent, Buhl School District
Estimated Average Cost: The estimated average annual gross cost on the proposed levy is $107.03 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value per year.After applying state tax relief funds (1,146,361), the estimated net impact is $8.92 per $100,000 of taxable value per year, based on current conditions.
