PROGRESS: WBCSD: Achieving greatness through grit, community

Over the past year, the West Bonner County School District has undergone a profound transformation. Moving from a period of significant financial and operational instability living up to its motto:  "Grit to Greatness." The district spent the 2025–2026 school year rebuilding its foundation, physical infrastructure, and community trust. 

Finance

The cornerstone of the district's recovery was the successful passage of the $2.35 million per year, two-year supplemental levy in May 2025. Approved by voters with approximately 55% support, this funding was a turning point. It allowed the district to:

• Prevent school closures: Plans to close Priest Lake and Idaho Hill Elementary were officially halted, ensuring that students in outlying communities could continue attending their local schools.

• Restore essential programs: Funding was reinstated for extracurricular activities, school athletics, and critical student support roles, including school nurses and psychologists. 

• Address a "bare-bones" budget: After a year of severe cuts, the levy provided necessary "breathing room" to stabilize staff retention and fill long-vacant administrative and educational positions.

Academic improvement

Focus on measurable academic growth and expanded learning pathways. While the district continues to work through challenges, several key academic markers and initiatives highlight a clear trend toward improvement.

• Significant literacy growth (IRI): The district saw substantial improvement in elementary reading scores. For the 2024–2025 school year, student proficiency on the Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) grew from 49.6% in the fall to 65.4% in the spring. This 15.8% jump demonstrates the impact of focused literacy coaching and intervention in the K–3 grades.

• Expansion of Career Technical Education: A major academic achievement is the concrete progress on the Forestry Building at Priest River Lamanna High School. This facility isn't just a construction project; it represents the expansion of the district’s "Forestry and Natural Resources" curriculum, allowing students to earn state-recognized industry certifications in a field central to the local economy.

Facilities 

Physical improvements have been a major focus this year, funded by a combination of state support and community partnership.

The forestry building project 

Construction is now in full swing on the new forestry building at Priest River Lamanna High School. As of March 2026, excavation is complete and foundation work is progressing. This facility is a flagship for the district’s Career Technical Education initiatives, designed to provide hands-on training in the region’s vital timber industry. The project recently reached a milestone when the Priest River City Council unanimously voted to waive water and sewer connection fees to support the school’s expansion. 

Modernization through House Bill 521 

WBCSD was allotted approximately $3.87 million from Idaho’s House Bill 521 (the school facilities fund). These funds are being prioritized for high-impact maintenance: 

• District-wide upgrades: The funds are also being used for a second phase of fire alarm system upgrades at the high school, scheduled to begin in June 2026. 

• Priest River Junior High: A comprehensive condition assessment is currently underway (April 2026) to determine the best path for the building.

Educational Initiatives: Innovate Academy 

A standout development this year is the launch of Innovate Academy. This program represents a reimagining of rural education, offering a flexible blend of: 

• Home Learning Network: A partnership with Overture Learning that supports K–8 students who thrive in home-based environments, allowing parents to lead their child's education with district support.

• Piloting EdOptions Academy: Providing personalized pathways for students who need an alternative to the traditional classroom. 

• Workforce training: Aligning curriculum with local industry needs to ensure graduates are career-ready. 

Transparency and community engagement 

To repair the relationship between the district and taxpayers, district officials have prioritized fiscal transparency. The trust gained was built on engagement: 

• Geographic Inclusivity: By holding meetings at local landmarks like the Surf Shack in Blanchard, the Nickleplate Café in Nordman, and the Snow Valley Church, the administration signaled that every corner of the district—no matter how remote—was a priority. This reduced the "Priest River-centric" bias that outlying communities often felt. 

• Audits: The 2023 fiscal audit was successfully completed in late 2025, and the 2024 audit is on track for completion this spring. 

Moving ahead 

As the district prepares for the 2026-2027 school year, the focus is shifting from "survival" to "sustainability." With the 2024-2025 "grit" phase behind us, West Bonner County School District is now looking at long-term strategic planning to ensure that the "greatness" seen in its classrooms and CTE programs is supported for years to come as the work to educate students continues! 

    West Bonner County School District's math teachers Courtney Greene and Kathy Prummer are honored for their work with students and teachers. The Apple Awards recognizes individuals and groups that contribute to the education of students in the district.
  

    Crews work on the West Bonner County School District's forestry building in April 2026 at Priest River Lamanna High School.

Kim Spacek is superintendent of the West Bonner County School District.