Last week, the Enterprise examined the sources of funding for the proposed new school, as well as the concept of Bond Equalization.  This week, we take a look at the proposed design for the new elementary school, which will be built on the footprint of the recently demolished high school should the bond pass.

In the past, school buildings were often multistory edifices that were among the

tallest, most impressive buildings in small towns. Today most new schools are

built on one level in order to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities

Act without having to install elevators or other types of lifts. In earthquake-prone

areas, such as Oneida County, single story buildings are safer and require less

earthquake-proof construction.

The proposed new Malad Elementary School will be built on one level, which will

require a larger building footprint in order to provide an adequate number of

classrooms plus larger rooms, such as a cafeteria, a library and a multipurpose

room. The planned construction site encompasses much of the land where the old

high school once stood.

Allowance for Growth

The proposed school will have three classrooms for each grade, Kindergarten

through Fifth, plus six extra classrooms, one for each grade. With the

anticipated increase in population in Oneida County, the new school is being

planned for future growth.  Idaho has recently been ranked as the United States’ fastest growing state, according to the most recent figures from the Census Bureau.  With Utah and Arizona ranked just below them, this area is seeing an unprecedented amount of growth.  

Multipurpose Room

The maximum bond capacity for Oneida School District, as determined by the

State, is under $30,000,000, which does not allow for the inclusion of an

auditorium or gym in the new school. However, the plans for the new school

include a large multipurpose room that can be configured to be used for sports, music

and drama productions, as well as a public meeting room. Different from some schools in

this area, the new school’s cafeteria will be a separate room, not part of the

multipurpose room.

The multipurpose room will have a large stage area that will usually be walled off

to be used as the music room. When the wall is pulled back, the stage can be used

for all-school programs. While not a self-contained auditorium, the multipurpose

room will ensure that the elementary school’s outstanding music program will

continue to have a place to present their productions, including the Veterans’ Day

program and various activities for Grandparents’ Day.

The multipurpose room will have pull-out bleachers along the wall opposite the

stage. The bleachers will seat 400; chairs could be set up between the bleachers

and stage to increase seating capacity for school and community events.

The multipurpose room will provide a better space for indoor play and sports

practice than the old gym, which required students to walk to it in all kinds of

weather.

Funds for beginning the design process for a new auditorium and field house are

included in the $29,000,000 bond to be decided by Oneida County voters on March

14. Anyone who has concerns about the new elementary school not including an

auditorium should contact Superintendent Jon Abrams at 208-534-6080 (ext. 412).

For additional information about the proposed elementary school, see

www.oneidaschooldistrict.com.

Due to the nature of this particular bond issue, a “Yes” vote on the bond will not increase property taxes, and a “No” vote on the bond will not decrease property taxes.  The bond vote is entirely designed to secure the available supporting funds from the state, not the local area.