EDIT: Idaho's public school funding failure has dire consequences in Silver Valley

Idaho’s school funding system is broken, and the evidence is right here in Shoshone County. 

Last week, 19 of 26 supplemental school levies passed across the state. The Kellogg School District was one of the few where the levy failed, while Wallace’s barely squeaked by. These results highlight a deeper problem: the way we fund schools in Idaho simply doesn’t work for rural communities. 

Statewide, about 79% of school funding comes from the state, 12% from local taxes, and 9% from the federal government. But in Shoshone County, local funding balloons to nearly 30%, almost triple the state average. Why? Because our tax base is tiny. Roughly 80% of Shoshone County is federal land, leaving little room for development. Most residents don’t want sprawling subdivisions or big-box stores, but the lack of growth means the same 14,000 people shoulder the tax burden year after year. 

Meanwhile, the state is underfunding public schools while diverting $50 million to private school tax credits. This policy willingly gives public funds to private entities at a time when public schools are struggling to keep the lights on. Add to that the loss of Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Act funding, which once helped districts surrounded by federal land, and you have a recipe for disaster. 

This has to change. If development is off the table, then federal funds must remain part of the equation. And public dollars should never be siphoned into private education when our own public schools are being starved. 

For Kellogg, cutting $3.5–$4 million isn’t just painful, it’s crippling. The levy funds salaries and benefits, utilities, transportation, classroom supplies, technology, curriculum, extracurriculars, custodial services, facilities, full-day kindergarten, classroom support, and the district nurse. Without it, we’re not talking about trimming a few programs. We’re talking about closing buildings, eliminating most support staff, cutting extracurriculars, gutting entire programs, and even losing certified teachers. Imagine a district without sports, nurses, or enough teachers to keep classrooms open—that’s what failure looks like. 

Kids deserve the same opportunities previous generations enjoyed. No one likes paying more, but until Idaho fixes its broken funding model, it’s up to us to keep those opportunities alive. 

So write to your state legislators and members of Congress. Tell them this system isn’t working. And in the meantime, don’t stop supporting your local schools. They aren’t just classrooms, they’re the heartbeat of our communities. Let’s keep them strong.