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Blackfoot Charter credits governance overhaul and new facility with drops in discipline and rising test scores
Summary
Blackfoot Charter School told the Senate Education Committee it addressed governance, curriculum, behavior systems and facilities, reporting a nearly 60% drop in out-of-class disciplinary consequences and measurable gains in literacy and math proficiency.
Board member Janelle Hill and Executive Director Craig Girard told the Senate Education Committee that a multi-year, board-led governance overhaul at Blackfoot Charter School produced measurable declines in disciplinary incidents and improvements in academic proficiency.
Hill said the board recognized about five years ago that leadership, academics, behavior systems and facilities were disconnected. The board worked with Idaho School Boards Association consultants and asked administration to develop a corrective plan; the plan included a uniform behavior-management system, new curricula in math, ELA, social studies and science, a professional-development focus, and a rebuilt daily schedule with time for academic intervention.
Girard said the school adopted a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) and positive reinforcement strategies, including signage and schoolwide celebrations tied to a “Knights Oath” (Ownership, Attitude, Teamwork, Honor). He said out-of-class consequences, suspensions and related disciplinary measures had "reduced by nearly 60% just from last year." The school also applied for and received a grant through SESTA, Boise State and the State Department of Education to support behavior systems.
Girard described curricular alignment led by a curriculum committee that selected new content materials and improved vertical alignment across grade levels. He said the school obtained private bonding to design and open a new 52,000-square-foot facility in Bingham County that includes a kitchen enabling a child-nutrition program.
On outcomes, Girard reported an increase in IRI (reading benchmark) proficiency of approximately 20% over two years, an ISAT ELA proficiency increase of about 7% since last year, and ISET math proficiency growth of about 6%, with some cohorts showing year-to-year gains up to 40%. He said the district expects further gains as intervention work continues.
Hill and Girard emphasized the board must set direction, provide budgetary support and be willing to hold hard conversations with administration; both said the improvements required buy-in from the entire school team. Committee members asked whether the new facility had affected community participation; administrators said the consolidated, secure facility removed barriers to community involvement.
