BONNERS FERRY — Driving south to Boise on Tuesday evening — a familiar route after years of advocacy for rural education — Boundary County School District Superintendent Jan Bayer got a phone call that made her pull over. 

On the other end of the line was Spencer Barzee, regional director for the Idaho Department of Education, with long-awaited news: the crumbling, 76-year-old Valley View Elementary School will be replaced. The state has awarded the district $13.2 million to build a new facility, he told her. 

“I just started crying,” Bayer said. “It took me two hours before I could start driving again. We fought so hard, for the kids, the staff, and the community. It became a reality — the culmination of so much work over the past five years.” 

The money comes from House Bill 338, which allocated $50 million for rural school facility upgrades statewide. On Aug. 4, a panel of state officials and contractors unanimously approved Boundary County’s 310-page application, awarding it more than 25% of the total available funds, with no strings attached. 

“I was just dumbfounded. Absolutely dumbfounded,” said Teresa Rae, vice-chair of the BCSD Board, who also made repeated trips to the state capital during the 2025 legislative session. “Over the years, we were able to secure support for almost everything — except our number one priority.” 

A facility in decline 

Valley View Elementary has been in poor condition for decades. Originally built with materials salvaged from a decommissioned World War II base, the structure lacks rebar and central heating. The gymnasium collapsed in 1996, and a 2023 inspection found the building was just one disaster away from condemnation.

Following a third failed bond attempt in three years, Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke toured the school last fall and called it “an embarrassment” — not only to his office but to the state, which ranks last in the U.S. for per-pupil spending.

“For so long, it felt hopeless,” Bayer said. “When kids are wearing gloves and hats inside the classroom, it takes an emotional toll. People were starting to think a solution wasn’t even possible.” 

What’s next 

District officials are moving quickly to begin the design phase, aiming to break ground in spring 2026 and open the new school in summer 2027. The new facility will be built adjacent to the current building, which will be demolished and turned into a parking lot once construction is complete. 

“Number one, it’s going to be safe,” Bayer said. “No one will have to worry about plumbing failures, roofs collapsing or walls coming down.” 

Rae added, “I’m excited about an energy-efficient facility where you can plug in devices without fear of overloading the circuits. We’ll finally have a climate-controlled environment for students with proper heating and air conditioning.” 

During the design phase, the district will seek input from teachers, parents, and local contractors, with the goal of building a practical school that incorporates existing infrastructure and reflects the character of Bonners Ferry. Possibilities include orienting the building to highlight views of the Kootenai River Valley and honoring the region’s heritage — timber, agriculture, and craftsmanship — through local artwork and artisan installations. 

Bayer said that community members may have the opportunity to sponsor classrooms in honor of important local figures. 

“We’re going to make it work for us up here in Bonners Ferry,” Rae said. “It’s not going to be some cookie-cutter school from down south that doesn’t understand our challenges or our history.” 

The funding path 

BCSD's successful proposal was built on extensive collaboration — enlisting state officials, attorneys, and consultants to demonstrate Valley View’s dire condition, history of failed bond attempts, and readiness for a new build. 

The $13.2 million from HB 338 will be combined with $5.13 million in capital investment secured through HB 521, bringing the total project budget to approximately $18.3 million. The new school will include four classrooms per grade level, but no new gymnasium, in accordance with the district’s application. 

The HB 338 panel approved five capital projects in its first round of funding, totaling $30 million — or 60% of the available budget. Among the recipients was Salmon, which received $9 million for a new bus shop, parking lot upgrades, and support for a new K–8 facility, according to IdahoEdNews. 

“Both Valley View and the school in Salmon stood out as being in dire need of replacement. I am thrilled that they were both funded, along with three other projects in the state,” Idaho District 1 Sen. Jim Woodward, a BFHS alum, wrote to the Herald. “This is another great step toward taking care of our school facilities with state funding. We have long lived with a paradigm that the state pays for operation, while local funds pay for school buildings. The old method has resulted in disparities between rural and urban districts. I am glad to see us moving forward.” 

Similarly, District 1A House Rep. Mark Sauter applauded the HB 338 panel’s decision to fund Valley View. 

“I’m thrilled for the Boundary County School District and extremely proud of everyone involved in getting their funding secured,” he wrote to the Herald. 

The final step, Bayer and Rae said, will be naming the new school — and both hope to keep the name Valley View. 

“I’d like to keep it the same,” Rae said. “It’s kind of nostalgic. Our forefathers named it, and it really is a great view of the valley. Of course, it’ll be the ‘new’ Valley View for the next 50 years.”