5.1. Based on figures compiled at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year Boundary County School District 101 encompasses an area of 1,277 square miles, operates on a current annual budget of $9.9-million, and operates and maintains seven buildings and land for an enrollment of 1,644 students and a staff of 228.
5.2. The seven school sites owned by Boundary County School District 101 are Valley View Elementary, Bonners Ferry; Mt. Hall Elementary, at the old Mt. Hall Junction in northern Boundary County; Naples Elementary, Naples; and Evergreen Elementary, Moyie Springs, all serving grades kindergarten through fifth; Boundary County Junior High, serving grades six through eight; and Bonners Ferry High School and Riverside High School (Alternative), both in Bonners Ferry and both serving grades nine through 12.
5.3. 920 public school students are transported 1,821 miles per day on 18 routes traveled by a fleet of 28 buses with a 71-passenger capacity and one handicap-accessible bus with a capacity of 24 passengers, manned by 18-full time drivers and five substitute drivers, all maintained by a transportation supervisor and two mechanics. Trends in public school transportation are considered to be stable.
Enrollment |
|
Fiscal Year |
Total Enrollment |
|
1996-1997 |
1,784 |
|
1997-1998 |
1,689 |
|
1998-1999 |
1,661 |
|
1999-2000 |
1,677 |
|
2000-2001 |
1,604 |
|
2001-2002 |
1,642 |
|
2002-2003 |
1,641 |
|
2003-2004 |
1,639 |
|
2004-2005 |
1,642 |
|
2005-2006 |
1,644 |
5.4. Public schools in Boundary County have kept basically the same enrollment over the past 40 years. The population during this same time has almost doubled. Currently, Boundary County School District 101 is in the process of a move toward more consolidation of its facilities and land. The facilities listed above are more than adequate for current district enrollment as well as to provide room for unforeseen increase in enrollment. For general interest, the district’s teacher-to-student ratio over the last four decades has more than doubled, and non-classified staff has increased as well. Nearly one-half of both the state and the county budgets go toward public education.
5.5. Charter schools are a growing trend in the community and generally operate as satellites. These schools are generally state funded and produce educational results at or above public school standards.
5.6. Private, religious, virtual and internet classrooms, home and special needs schools all play an important role in educating Boundary County youth, with approximately one in four students completing all or a major part of their education outside the public school system. The latitude offered by these private-sector schools allows them to provide a wide-range of educational options without the burden of increased costs to the taxpayer.