Beyond the Bell: Legislative Update, Super Search, and More!

Posted Date: 01/26/26 (01:57 PM)

Welcome

Beyond the Bell offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Boise School District—covering the financial, operational, and policy decisions that shape our schools.

2026 Legislative Session Update

Last week we kicked-off our weekly check-in calls with our local legislators. While the start of the session has been relatively slow compared to previous years, one topic that has generated a lot of interest early on is online learning, specifically the state’s official online learning service, the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA). For those of you who are unfamiliar with IDLA and how it is utilized by our district’s students, we have prepared a very brief overview of what IDLA provides and how it supplements the excellent instruction our students receive in our schools.

We are also monitoring the discussion around special education and the services we provide to some of our most vulnerable students. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every student in our district receives a high-quality education and professional instruction in a welcoming environment.

In addition to the scrutiny facing IDLA and special education, we are also working closely with legislators and our primary advocacy groups, The Idaho School Boards Association (ISBA) and The Idaho Association of School Administrators (IASA) to provide timely, fact-based information regarding a host of issues, including school district budgeting and finance, civics instruction and the proper use of AI in the classroom.

Superintendent Search

At a special meeting on January 21, the Boise School District Board of Trustees formally accepted the retirement of Superintendent Lisa Roberts and began the process of selecting the district’s next leader. As a first step, Trustees voted to interview current Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Wendy Johnson for the position. The interview will take place in executive session during a special Board meeting on Thursday, January 29 at 4:00 p.m.

Board President Dave Wagers said, “We work very hard to develop our talented staff and are very fortunate to have a deep bench within our administrative leadership team. It only makes sense that our process of hiring a new superintendent begins with someone who has established herself not only as a highly respected educator in Idaho, but also as a champion for every student, family, and employee in our community.”

The Board invites community members to share input as part of the search process. Comments and perspectives may be submitted by email to trustees@boiseschools.org and will be considered as Trustees move through the superintendent selection process.

Parent Advocacy Group Digs Into Standards Based Reporting

At its January meeting, the Parent Advocacy Group explored our long-term work to implement Standards Based Reporting (SBR), an approach designed to provide clearer, more meaningful information about what students know and are able to do.

Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Wendy Johnson explained how SBR separates academic learning from behaviors such as effort and participation, giving families a more accurate picture of student progress toward specific learning goals. Rather than emphasizing points and averages, SBR focuses on feedback, growth, and mastery of clearly defined standards.

Borah High School Principal Tim Standlee shared Borah’s experience with standards-based reporting, highlighting improved student engagement, more accurate measurement of learning, and greater consistency across subjects and teachers.

Parents also reviewed our phased timeline, which reflects nearly a decade of preparation and professional learning. Elementary implementation is planned to begin in 2026–27, followed by grades 8–12 in 2027–28, with full districtwide implementation expected in 2028–29. Throughout the transition, the district will continue alignment, training, and calibration to ensure students are not negatively impacted.

The discussion emphasized the essential role families play in this work. Parents were invited to ask questions, share experiences, and offer feedback as the district continues to refine its approach.

Thank you to our Parent Advocacy Group members for their time, insight, and partnership in strengthening grading and reporting practices for all students!

2025 AP School Honor Roll lists Gold medal recipients: Boise High School and Timberline High School.

High Schools Earn National Recognition for Expanding College Opportunity

We are proud to celebrate all four of our traditional high schools for earning recognition on the 2025 AP® School Honor Roll, a national distinction that honors schools for expanding access to Advanced Placement coursework and supporting students on the path to college success.

Boise High School – Gold
Timberline High School – Gold
Borah High School – Silver
Capital High School – Silver

The AP School Honor Roll, awarded by the College Board, recognizes schools that are intentionally building a strong college-going culture by welcoming more students into AP courses and helping them succeed once enrolled.

Planning Moves Forward for Multi-Sports Stadiums

We value our long-standing partnership with Boise State University and the opportunity for our student-athletes to compete at Dona Larsen Park, a high-quality venue for football and track. However, the dedicated funds from the land exchange years ago that supported this arrangement have now been fully expended, and the use of the facility comes with limitations, including schedule conflicts with Boise State’s football, softball, and track and field programs. Our current agreement with Boise State ends this school year, and we are negotiating a new three-year agreement while continuing to plan for the future.

Our long-term vision is for each comprehensive high school to have its own multi-sport stadium, allowing schools to host all athletic events on their own campuses. While there is currently no timeline or dedicated funding source for these projects, we are taking early, preparatory steps. Paperwork has been filed with the City of Boise to begin preparing property near Timberline High School for a potential multi-sport stadium, including consolidating recently purchased residential lots and beginning the approval process for future lighting needs. These steps ensure we are positioned to move forward when the community and financial support are in place to meet the standards our students and families deserve.

Boise Schools At-A-Glance

🏫 Schools & Enrollment

48 neighborhood schools with open enrollment
Full-day Kindergarten at every elementary school
2 District-wide Early Childhood Learning Centers

🎓 Academics & Teachers

72% of teachers hold a Master’s degree
67% of graduates pursue post-secondary education

🔧 Career & Technical Education

5,000+ students enrolled in Career-Technical Programs

🍎 Student Support

Free breakfast for all students
Access to social workers and counselors at all schools

⚽ Activities & Opportunities

200+ sports, clubs, and student-led organizations

🏫 Schools & Enrollment

48 neighborhood schools with open enrollment
Full-day Kindergarten at every elementary school
2 District-wide Early Childhood Learning Centers

🎓 Academics & Teachers

72% of teachers hold a Master’s degree
67% of graduates pursue post-secondary education

🔧 Career & Technical Education

5,000+ students enrolled in Career-Technical Programs

🍎 Student Support

Free breakfast for all students

⚽ Activities & Opportunities

200+ sports, clubs, and student-led organizations

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