The Lake Pend Oreille School District board voted Tuesday to approve the relocation of Lake Pend Oreille High School away from its longtime North Boyer Avenue campus in Sandpoint, moving the alternative high school program into two portable classrooms and a former driver’s education building.
The decision came over the objections of teachers, parents, former students, and community members who had gathered to oppose the move — many of whom argued the existing campus provides an irreplaceable environment for students who have struggled in traditional school settings.
Funding Shortfall and Facility Concerns Drive Decision
District officials pointed to declining enrollment and the resulting drop in funding as the primary driver behind the relocation. The current North Boyer Avenue campus was also identified as failing to meet acceptable standards for accessibility, building systems, and overall functionality.
Superintendent Dr. Becky Meyer said the district’s original recommendation was designed to expand elective offerings for students and improve their access to the Career Technical Education Center — a goal she framed as beneficial to the alternative school’s student population.
Critics, however, argued the district’s own management decisions created the conditions that now justify the move. Community member Sarah Burrough pushed back directly against that framing during public comment. “Our students did not choose to be bused across town,” Burrough said. “The administration made them get on those buses by starving their historic campus of resources.”
That sentiment echoed throughout the public comment period, with multiple speakers arguing the district had deliberately underfunded the North Boyer site and was now using the resulting deterioration as grounds for displacement.
Advocates Warn of Message Sent to Alternative Students
Lake Pend Oreille High School serves students who, for a variety of reasons, have not thrived in the traditional Sandpoint High School environment. Supporters of the current campus stressed that the school’s location and identity are inseparable from its mission — providing a stable, separate space for students who need an alternative path.
Community member Tari Pardini warned that housing the school in portables beside a younger grade level carries a symbolic cost. “Shifting them to portables behind a younger grade level sends a clear demoralizing message about how this district values the alternative path,” Pardini said.
Several speakers also questioned whether the district followed proper legal procedure in reaching the decision. Public commenters raised challenges to the legality of the vote itself. A 30-page grievance was filed against the district related to the relocation, though the district has reportedly been cleared of several claims contained within it, including an alleged violation of Idaho’s open meeting laws.
What Comes Next
With the board’s vote finalized, the Lake Pend Oreille School District will move forward with transitioning the high school to its new location. The timeline for that transition was not detailed in available information, but the vote signals the district intends to proceed despite sustained community opposition.
Questions about the 30-page grievance remain part of the broader dispute. While the district says it has been cleared of multiple claims, it is unclear whether all outstanding concerns have been resolved or whether further legal or administrative action is being pursued by opponents of the relocation.
The controversy highlights a challenge facing smaller Idaho school districts as declining enrollment forces difficult decisions about facilities and programming. Balancing fiscal constraints against the specialized needs of alternative education students — many of whom rely on stable, consistent environments — will likely remain a pressure point for the district in the months ahead.
Parents and community members who remain opposed to the relocation are encouraged to continue engaging with the school board through public comment periods and board meetings. For students considering their options, North Idaho College’s Career Technical program offers an employment guarantee to graduates, providing one additional pathway for Bonner County students pursuing non-traditional education routes.