The Idaho Department of Education has cleared the Lake Pend Oreille School District of legal violations related to its decision to relocate the alternative high school from the old Lincoln School building to a site adjacent to Sandpoint Middle School.
Following a review completed August 13, the state agency found that the district did not violate Idaho Code or administrative rules in approving the move. The determination comes after a community coalition filed a statutory grievance alleging the district had breached open meeting and state education laws in connection with the July 14 school board vote authorizing the relocation.
State Finds No Legal Violations
According to the state’s findings, the district’s decision-making process and the relocation plan itself comply with current law. Gideon Tolman, the IDE’s chief financial advisor, stated that “Although there may have been different requirements in the past, there is currently no provision in Idaho code or administrative rule requiring alternative learning programs to operate at a separate site.”, as first reported by the Bonner County Daily Bee
The IDE’s review examined the district’s relocation plan, attendance data, capital projects, and administrative costs in reaching its conclusion. The state also acknowledged that potential ambiguities in Idaho Code could warrant legislative clarification on public school funding concerns, though it found no violations under existing statutes.
District Superintendent Dr. Becky Meyer said she did not publicly announce the state’s clearance before the IDE released an official statement. However, Meyer had presented a side-by-side comparison of Idaho Code and the grievance allegations during an August 11 school board meeting, addressing specific claims made in the 40-page grievance document.
Meyer told the Bonner County Daily Bee she spent considerable time reviewing the grievance independently. “I took the 40-page grievance and spent countless hours going through and doing all of my own reading. That’s where I found all of the discrepancies and the complete fabrications of law,” she told the board, according to minutes.
District Cites Budget and Building Concerns
The school district cited declining enrollment and reduced state funding as primary drivers of the relocation decision. The district also cited deficiencies in the current Lincoln School building, including accessibility and functionality issues that would require substantial investment to remedy.
The alternative high school has operated at the Lincoln School site, but consolidating it with the larger Sandpoint Middle School campus is expected to improve operational efficiency and reduce facility-related costs as the district manages tighter budgets.
Community Opposition and Next Steps
The relocation proposal has faced organized community opposition. Teachers, parents, and former students expressed concerns about the impact of moving the alternative program to a shared campus, citing worries about the school’s safe and supportive environment.
Coalition member Jackie Branum claimed the administration announced the state’s final clearance during the August 11 board meeting before official state confirmation had been received. The district has said the relocation will not increase bullying and that the new campus site is being enhanced with student input into beautification efforts.
The IDE’s clearance removes the legal barrier to the relocation proceeding. Whether the community coalition pursues additional challenges or whether the board faces pressure to reconsider remains unclear, but the state’s determination that no legal violations occurred substantially strengthens the district’s legal position.
The Lake Pend Oreille School District previously cleared legal hurdles in the high school relocation plan, and the district continues to implement other initiatives, including a moment of silence requirement adopted earlier.
What Comes Next
With state approval in hand, the district is positioned to move forward with the alternative high school relocation. The timeline for the physical move and any transition planning involving staff, students, and families has not been announced. Community members remain divided on the decision, and local interest in the project’s implementation is likely to continue.