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Candidates praise athletics and arts as part of a well-rounded education
Summary
All four Emmett School District candidates said extracurriculars matter for student development; candidates cited athletics, arts and community donors that fund programs.
Forum participants described extracurricular activities'roles in student development and school culture.
Rick Johnston emphasized both athletics and the arts, saying a donor gave $50,000 to the Emmett Public School Foundation earmarked "for the arts," and that extracurriculars help students become "well rounded." Terry Jones noted sports provide incentives that can improve academics because participation often requires maintaining grades and cited community investment in a new football field. Clay Smith said extracurriculars teach students to "do hard things" and build resilience. Mona Barnes argued teamwork is learned across multiple activities, not only athletics, and called for more arts field trips, noting she has "never heard about any field trip to the Boise Art Museum."
Why it matters: Extracurriculars shape student engagement and can affect attendance and postsecondary outcomes. Candidates pointed to community philanthropy and district spending choices when describing program supports.
No specific funding actions were proposed during the forum, but candidates highlighted local donor support and the district's role in balancing athletics and arts.
