LPOSD introduces facilities timeline, policies

Lake Pend Oreille School District trustees reviewed a trio of proposed policies and an updated timeline for facility construction in a monthly meeting Tuesday. 

Facilities timeline

Superintendent Dr. Becky Meyer shared an updated timeline for the district’s two major facilities projects: constructing the Career Technical Education Center of North Idaho and rehabilitating Sandpoint Middle School. 

Meyer said construction of CTEC — which is supported by a $3.5 million state grant and will provide a space for area high schoolers to develop trade skills — is set to begin on the grounds of Sandpoint High School soon. The facility will be a separate annex to the building; Meyer said the district is hoping the center will open by January 2026, but that the timeline may shift back to the start of the next academic year in September 2026. 

At the middle school, district officials expect core system renovations to begin in the summer 2026 and finish in the fall of 2028. The $18.2 million project will utilize state funds offered to districts in 2024 to address facilities and infrastructure needs. 

“The students will be able to stay in the building because they'll be building it in phases,” Meyer said. “Right now, the architect is still working on gathering information, and we're going to be in the design phase for the remainder of the year.” 

Proposed policies 

Trustees gave a first reading of a policy stating that LPOSD would purchase surety bonds for administrative staff members who conduct the district’s financial operations. 

Surety bonds are legal agreements that guarantee an individual or party will fulfill a contractual obligation. In this case, a surety would act like an insurance policy protecting the district from internal fraud by staff members handling finances. 

Chief Financial and Operations Officer Brian Wallace said that Idaho Code recommends purchasing sureties, but that many districts don’t do it. 

“I think this district's been fine. I think our practice has been good, but it never hurts to do things to protect the district.” Wallace said. 

Trustees suggested changing language to give the board more flexibility in implementing the policy and expressed a desire to learn more about the anticipated cost and how sureties would interface with existing insurance policies. 

Wallace said he would evaluate the cost to the district and potential vendors for the product and report to trustees when they give the policy a second reading. 

Other proposals include policies dictating practices for safety rule postings, facilities inspection, and regulations and practices surrounding pay and maternity/paternity leave for classified staff. Staff and trustees said the changes are mainly designed to formalize and clarify the district’s existing practices.

Mid-year report 

In an update to administrators and stakeholders, LPOSD’s directors of education gave a mid-year data report describing schools’ performance across the district. 

The directors shared that the district’s fall 2024 elementary literacy test scores were above the state average and that the number of fourth, fifth and sixth graders receiving reading intervention had fallen from fall to winter. 

Additionally, graduation rates from the 2023-2024 academic year have been finalized; LPOSD’s 86.2% graduation rate outpaced the state average of 82.3%. All 33 seniors at Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High graduated last year, along with 90.5% of eligible SHS students and 50% of the 40 seniors at Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School.

“We're not satisfied with that 50%, especially for some of our most vulnerable students,” Casey McLaughlin, director of secondary education, said. 

The number of “F” grades given in the first semester at SMS and SHS has shrunk since 2023, along with the number of students receiving at least one F on their report card. 

McLaughlin attributed the change to rising attendance metrics over the same time frame and flex periods introduced to the schedule at both schools, which allow students to receive extra help with challenging subjects. 

“We all know, not every student learns at the same rate,” he said. “Sometimes, students need second chance learning opportunities.” 

LPOSD trustees will meet next at 5 p.m. March 11 at the district’s office, 365 Triangle Drive.