Enterprise The Idaho
Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
February 2, 2023 |Vol. 143 No. 05
Public Hearing on new elementary school plan held
On Monday, January 30, Superintendent Jon Abrams hosted a public hearing to discuss the specifics of the upcoming school bond election and the proposed new elementary school that would be built as a result of its passage. The election is scheduled for March 14 and requires a supermajority of 66.67% of votes cast in order for the bond to pass. Abrams began by reiterating the primary point that for Oneida County voters the school bond election will not have any effect on property taxes. This is due to two main factors, which Abrams devoted much of his presentation to discussing: the fact that the state bond equalization process contributes state funding to the building of school buildings, and the related fact that the influx of “school-at-home” students into Oneida School District’s Idaho Home Learning Academy (IHLA) has increased the student enrollment numbers for the District from fewer than 1000 brick-andmortar students to more than 8000 total students. State bond equalization is a process by which state education funds match a percentage of bonded projects based on a formula derived from economic conditions in the district and the number of enrolled students. In the case of Oneida School District, the bond equalization would match around 38% of the maximum bonding ca-
Superintendent Jon Abrams speaks at Monday's public hearing about the upcoming school bond election pacity for the district, which is $30 million. This means that if the bond passes, the state would pay around $12 million of the cost for the proposed new elementary school, as well as a new softball and baseball field to be built near the high school. The district itself would be responsible for around $19 million, which it has already secured. The majority of the funding the district has managed to lock away comes from the massive increase in enrollment in IHLA over the last two years. As a result of COVID, the number of school-at-home students across the state registered in IHLA has increased, with Oneida County as their home district. From just over
2000 students two years ago, IHLA now has an enrollment over 7000, which results in Oneida School District getting a larger amount of state funding, which is based on student enrollment. Neither the bond equalization nor the IHLA enrollment figures are guaranteed in perpetuity, which, as Abrams explained, makes this a unique time to take advantage of the current opportunities available to the district. “This is the right time, and the right place, to do something great for generations in this area,” Abrams said. School Board Vice-Chair Chalae Teeples explained that “these tax dollars are already collected. The equal-
ization is our tax dollars, coming back to our community.” Abrams expanded, “The taxes have already been collected. They can be spent somewhere else in the state, or they can be spent on our school.” Abrams and the school board members explained clearly that they could not promote a particular vote on the bond election, though Abrams did reiterate that “if the bond isn’t passed, we won’t build the school.” The PTO President, Melanie Coleman, was also in attendance and explained that it planned to promote a “yes” vote on the upcoming PUBLIC HEARING On Page 2
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NEWS IN BRIEF Intense winter temperatures strike U.S. Icy conditions across the country have led to a number of weather related emergencies. Below freezing temperatures across the Midwest and mountain states have led to freeway closures and school cancellations in many states, including Idaho. Many school districts in the southeast portion of the state, including Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and surrounding areas have closed school out of concern for student safety. Malad delayed its school day Monday by two hours to account for extreme cold temperatures at bus stops. The run of below zero temps is expected to moderate throughout the later part of the week and soften into next week, though temperatures will remain below freezing into the foreseeable future.
Home prices continue to fall Following last year’s explosion in home prices, real estate markets are seeing something like a reset to pre-2022 level as fears of a recession and higher lending costs cut into the boom in housing that saw what many experts believe was a temporary bubble in pricing. The last increase in average home prices was noted in October of last year, and the average price has been falling ever since. The future of the housing market is seen as mostly dependent on the Federal Reserve’s actions moving forward with regard to the prime interest rate.
Superbowl teams set Over the weekend, the Eagles easily put away the injured 49ers 31-7 and the Chiefs outlasted the Bengals in a tight 23-20 victory. The Eagles’ one Superbowl win came in 2017, when they defeated the powerhouse New England Patriots 41-33 under backup quarterback Nick Foles. The Kansas City Chiefs, who played in the first ever Superbowl in 1967, are returning for their fifth appearance, most recently losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020.
Texas zoo offers buggy revenge
Over 60 local students participated in this weekend's performance of "The Emperor's New Clothes"
“Emperor’s New Clothes” plays over the weekend
The Missoula Children’s Theatre presented its second performance in two years in the Malad Valley, as over 60 local students performed in this year’s production of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” over the weekend. On Saturday, Jan. 28, the Missoula Children's Theatre and local students who had auditioned and practiced for the performance over the last several weeks presented an original musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic, based on the classic sto-
ry of the ruler whose eyes have been blinded by flattery and insincerity. Playing the title character of the Emperor was local student Ira Carter. Other featured performers included Tyker Hamilton as ManyPenny, Ava Fesler as Royal Scholar Roxy, Rudy as Lillie Kraask, and Asher Brower as Royal Scholar Red. The Kings were Jace Call, Tandon Redd, Ruxin Smith, Ethan Richard, and the Queens were Rose Butler, Draylyn Jones, Lyla Reel, Ali Hanks. The Money Council was be
Dawson Jones, Bentley Teeples, Mariah Price, Rickell Call, Luke Allen, Liam Atkinson, Herber Johnson, Bryten Bastian. Gem was Karmyn Charles while the Royal Jewelers were Jaylee Johnson, Jocelyn Purdum, Ashlynn Stuart, Maggie Schow, Haylen Kimberling. Boots was Addie Brower and the Royal Cobblers are Ambria deEMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES On Page 2
INSIDE THE ENTERPRISE THIS WEEK Floorplan of proposed new school......Pg.2 Obituaries..............................................Pg.3 Stake Conference Report....................Pg.6
Looking Back......................................................Pg.8 Puzzles.............................................................Pg.10 Sports..........................................................Pg.11-12
The San Antonio Zoo is once again offering patrons the unique, if somewhat dark, chance to name a cockroach after an ex and have it fed to one of the zoo’s animals. The naming rights for a snack cost $10, a cost which directly goes to paying for the zoo’s budget. Individuals who feel that a cockroach is too strong a message to a former flame can instead choose a vegetable for $5 or a rodent for $25. Additionally, a recorded message to the named individual can be purchased for $150. The zoo saw 8,000 people participate last year, and claims to be on track for an even bigger return this year.
Items to remove from cars in freezing weather Residents are being reminded to remove some items from their vehicles during this cold snap which can be damaged by extreme temperatures. Technology items top the list, as many people neglect to remove items such as phones, laptops, GPS devices, and others from their cars only to see them break as a result. Food products, especially vegetables, canned products, and bottled goods are also sources of spoilage. Medication can also be impacted by freezing temperatures, as can musical instruments and cleaning products.