Former Students File Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Against School District
A federal civil rights lawsuit was filed today by Dakota King Hutton and Emily Thayer, two former students of Wood River High School (WRHS) in Hailey. The lawsuit alleges violations of the students’ constitutionally protected rights to free speech by the Blaine County School District (BCSD) and several named administrators, including BCSD Superintendent GwenCarol Holmes.
At issue for Hutton is an opinion poll she conducted when she was a senior at WRHS. She asked 30 random students and staff about, among other things, the impact Superintendent GwenCarol Holmes had on the district. According to Hutton’s account, the poll was deleted because the school district had claimed it violated Idaho law as it was a “professional evaluation”
“I was shocked and frustrated when I learned that several administrators quickly moved to delete my assignment from the school’s Google Drive account,” said Hutton. “The questions, asking about how well a leader is doing, are the kind you see in polls all the time and they seemed very appropriate for a class on government. I ended up receiving a ‘no grade’ on the assignment, and I had to meet with the principal and several other school officials.”
At issue for Thayer is a monthly report she submitted in the fall of 2017 to the school board in her capacity as student body representative. In the report, Thayer noted that students wanted the board to reconsider their decision on the 2018 graduation date. According to Thayer’s account, the superintendent redacted that portion of her report.
“We have been made aware of the lawsuit and our attorneys are reviewing it,” school district spokesperson Heather Crocker said.
When the controversy arose last year, the school board sent a one-page letter to Hutton refuting some of her claims and offering “guidance and support” if she wanted to revise her survey.
Health Officials Warn Of Hepatitis A Outbreak In Southern Idaho
Public health officials are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in southern Idaho. Twelve people infected with the hepatitis A virus have been reported to public health officials since the beginning of the year; three cases were in Blaine County. In 2018, only eight people were reported with hepatitis A in Idaho.
Epidemiologists are working to determine possible links between the cases and are encouraging people in high-risk populations to get vaccinated. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for people who might be at increased risk of being exposed to the virus, including:
- Men who have sex with men
- People who use drugs (injection or non-injection)
- People experiencing unstable housing or homelessness
- People with chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C
“We’re monitoring the situation closely,” said epidemiologist Randi Pedersen. “The best protection is to be vaccinated, but everyone can reduce their risk by practicing good hand hygiene. This means thoroughly washing your hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food.”
Hepatitis A is a virus that infects the liver and is easily spread by poor hand washing, close contact or sex with an infected person, eating or drinking contaminated food, and recreational drug use.
“Most Idahoans reported with hepatitis A this year have been so severely ill, they were hospitalized,” Pedersen said.
Hepatitis A can be prevented by being vaccinated, and also by washing hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food. Symptoms start 2-7 weeks after infection and can include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, tiredness, lack of appetite, and dark urine or pale stool.
Hepatitis A vaccine has been routinely recommended for children since 1999. However, there are many Idahoans over the age of 30 who were not vaccinated as a child and are susceptible to hepatitis A. Lack of immunity among Idahoans over the age of 30 may be playing a role in the current outbreak in Idaho.
For more information about hepatitis A and getting vaccinated, talk to your healthcare provider or local public health district. Find your local public health district at https://www.idahopublichealthdistricts.org/ and Hepatitis A Facts at https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis.
Bug Zoo Is Coming To You
The Sawtooth Botanical Garden has set its dates for its 15th annual Bug Zoo commencing with the opening of the Bug Zoo Festival on Saturday, April 27. The 2019 Bug Zoo theme is “Survival!”
The yearly celebration and study of insects, reptiles and other critters at Sawtooth Botanical Garden allows people to connect with some of our strangest fellow creatures. This spring, participants will look at survival strategies of animals and plants, including migration, cooperation, and adaptation in the face of new challenges.
The educational fun begins on Saturday, April 27 at 11 a.m. with the Bug Zoo Festival. Inside and outside at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden participants will have opportunities to meet the critters, get a face painting, do a scavenger hunt, make art, learn about flowers, and how to garden with insects in mind.
Last year more than 1,500 people participated in Bug Zoo, a nearly two-week event hosted by the Sawtooth Botanical Garden each year. For more information and the full schedule, visit www.sbgarden.org or call (208) 726-9358. The Sawtooth Botanical Garden is located at 11 Gimlet Road, four miles south of Ketchum.
Returning, New Student Enrollment Under Way
Returning student registration will open today for students currently attending a Blaine County School District (BCSD) school. New student enrollment for the next school year is currently open, too.
Returning student registration can be accessed through existing Skyward Family Access accounts. Skyward Family Access requires a log-in name and password; parents can use the same log-in/password as prior years. If parents have forgotten log-in names or passwords, they can follow the instructions on the log-in page or contact their child’s school secretary.
Students who enroll now will be able to sign up for classes for the upcoming school year. This includes students new to the district who plan on transferring from another school, such as The Sage School, Pioneer Montessori School, Syringa Mountain School or Sun Valley Community School, and for families planning to move to Blaine County, Idaho. Parents should begin by contacting the school their child plans to attend.
A registration checklist and more information is available at www.blaineschools.org under Our District/Registration.
Organ Donation Organizers Celebrate Milestone
More than 1 million Idahoans are committed to organ donation, making the state one of the highest per-capita donor registries in the nation. It’s a benchmark that was celebrated by the “Yes Idaho” Donate Life Coalition on Tuesday in Boise.
At the event Tuesday, the “Yes Idaho” Donate Life Coalition recognized local community partners who have been an integral part of saving lives through organ donation. In addition, Intermountain Donor Services Director Alex McDonald addressed the new $2 voluntary donation Idahoans can make to the organ donation program when they receive or renew their driver’s license. The money is used to educate Idahoans about the need for organ, eye and tissue donation.
The donor registry documents a person’s consent for organ, eye and tissue donation after death. An organ donor can potentially save 75 lives. Since the program started in August 2018, more than $4,000 has been raised.
For more information about organ, eye and tissue donation, go to the “Yes Idaho” website or call 1-866-Yes-Idaho.
Mountain Humane Welcomes New Board Members And Officers
Three new longtime philanthropic volunteers have been added to the Mountain Humane board of directors. They are Linda Potter, Rita Golleher and Maggie Sturdevant, all longtime supporters of the shelter.
They join existing directors Joseph Begovich, Christine Ferguson, Bobbi Hunt, Sally Onetto, Phil Usher, secretary Elizabeth Mathieu, treasurer Renee Faltings, vice president Dan Drackett and president Jan Main.
“We are truly grateful to the commitment and service of our board members,” JoAnne Dixon, executive director, said. “Without their leadership and support, Mountain Humane would not be able to fulfill our ambitious goal of making Idaho a no-kill state.”
Mountain Humane officially moved into its new animal welfare facility earlier this year, doubling the number of pets housed and continuing the current trend of increased adoptions. As the first no-kill shelter in the state of Idaho, Mountain Humane is joining forces with regional shelters to achieve the so-called No-Kill Idaho goal by 2025.
Idaho’s Nuclear Watchdog Has A New Pack Leader
Holly Harris will become executive director of the Snake River Alliance board, starting May 1. Harris comes to the grassroots organization after more than nine years as a staff attorney for Earthjustice in Alaska. Before that, she worked for the firm K&L Gates (formerly Preston, Gates & Ellis) in Seattle, focusing on environmental matters and renewable energy as well as supervising teams dedicated to Superfund cleanup design and implementation.
Harris has a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Alaska, an M.S. in Public Administration with a concentration on Natural Resources Policy from the University of Oregon, and a law degree from the University of Oregon.
In 2018, the SRA led a successful campaign to raise public awareness about proposed plutonium shipments to Idaho. The Department of Energy abandoned the plan for those shipments.
“We’re now trying to stop construction of 12 nuclear power reactors at the Idaho National Laboratory. Holly will be an excellent leader for this effort. And she joins us just in time for our 40th anniversary gala. This is a good way to face the future,” Julie Hoefnagels, president of the Snake River Alliance board, said.
Idaho Supreme Court Wants To Hear From You
The Idaho Supreme Court has released the Idaho Civil Justice Reform Task Force Report, an examination of Idaho’s civil courts that includes proposals aimed at improving access to the courts by reducing the length and cost of civil litigation.
The task force has recommended the court adopt 13 recommendations originally developed by the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ). The proposed changes include fundamentally altering how civil cases flow through the court system, creating three tracks a case can take depending on the resources required. The changes are meant to address rising court fees and declining filings of civil cases; signs that civil procedure costs often outpace the amounts in dispute. Rising costs also cause many meritorious cases to not be pursued.
Some of the proposed changes include:
- Judges and court staff, not attorneys, to control the pace of litigation based on schedules set shortly after a civil case is filed.
- Introducing case management teams made of a responsible judge and a support staff who can make routine case management decisions.
- Making litigation easier for the public to understand and navigate.
The changes would affect civil cases including collections, contracts, real estate disputes, employment, personal injury and medical malpractice. It would not affect family law or small claims cases.
The Idaho Supreme Court is asking for public comment on the recommendations before voting on whether or not to adopt them. The report and technical correction can be found at https://isc.idaho.gov/files/final-report.pdf. The comment period is open through June 30 and all comments should be sent to CourtComments@idcourts.net.
It’s Time To Register For Idaho’s Largest Online Fundraiser
A high-profile charitable giving campaign—Idaho Gives 2019—is just one month away. That means nonprofit organizations must register by April 15 in order to receive Idaho Gives donations and share in the nearly $50,000 in award pool prizes that will be given out throughout the day.
Last year, over 100 Idaho employers partnered with the Idaho Nonprofit Center to participate in Idaho Gives, which raised over $1.5 million. This year’s goal is to raise $1.7 million for nonprofits around the state.
Idaho employers can raise awareness for Idaho Gives in many different ways, such as hanging posters, signs, sending emails, posting on social media, and hosting Idaho Gives events. For more information, please contact Amy Little at alittle@idahononprofits.org or (208) 424-2229.
Idaho Authorities Asked To Require Hunters To Carry Bear Spray
A coalition of organizations today submitted petitions to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission proposing rules to require hunters in grizzly bear habitat to carry bear spray. The proposals follow years of high grizzly bear mortalities due to hunter-related conflicts the groups say do not have to lead to deadly results.
Although grizzly bear conflicts with people remain relatively rare, data shows increasing numbers of conflicts between grizzly bears and humans during the fall hunting season as grizzly bears are drawn to gut piles left by hunters or come face to face with hunters in surprise encounters. Researchers and wildlife managers overwhelmingly agree that bear spray is the most effective means of deterring bear attacks and preventing human injury when encounters occur.
“Bear spray has been proven time and time again to be the most effective tool in preventing injury to both people and bears in close encounters, including hunting conflicts,” said Bonnie Rice, senior representative for the Sierra Club’s Our Wild America Campaign. “It’s common sense to require hunters to carry bear spray, and agencies should act now to make it mandatory.”
Peer-reviewed studies have shown that bear spray is 98 percent effective at preventing human injuries during bear encounters. Firearms are only 50 percent effective.
Idaho WIC Receives ‘Organization Of The Year’ Award
Every year, the Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics selects an organization in the state that has gone above and beyond to improve the lives of Idaho children. This year, they selected the Idaho Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program as their Organization of the Year.
The award recognizes WIC for its years of dedication to supporting moms and babies with education, breastfeeding support, and nutritional support.
“We work in WIC because we care about the families and children in our communities,” said Tammy Walters, WIC program coordinator at the South Central Public Health District. “Every day we get to see the positive difference it makes. It’s wonderful to see this hard work recognized on the state level.”
In 2018, South Central Public Health District served 8,245 clients, provided over $2.9 million in food vouchers, and helped all of these clients learn how to incorporate healthier diets into their lives. WIC also promotes breastfeeding as the optimal infant feeding choice.
If you or someone you know could benefit from WIC, visit signupwic.com to find a location near you. South Central Public Health District manages nine WIC locations in Twin Falls, Blaine, Minidoka, Cassia, Jerome, Lincoln, Gooding and Camas counties.
All-Day Kindergarten, Dual-Immersion Kindergarten And Preschool Registration Period Opens
Parents can register today for all-day kindergarten, dual-immersion kindergarten, and preschool for Alturas, Bellevue and Hailey elementarysSchools as well as at Ernest Hemingway STEAM School. On Thursday, Ernest Hemingway STEAM School will allow parents to register for preschool.
For students attending Alturas, Bellevue, and Hailey Elementary, parents can register their children at the Community Campus (1050 Fox Acres Road) from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. For students attending Hemingway Elementary, all-day kindergarten and dual-immersion kindergarten, parents can register their children at Ernest Hemingway STEAM School between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. On Thursday, April 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., parents can register for preschool.
For students attending Carey School, parents can contact the school at (208) 578-5040.
Parents or guardians need to bring an original state-certified birth certificate and documented proof of residency with a physical address in Blaine County. Parents also need to bring immunization records. South Central Health District will offer immunizations at the Community Campus from 1-5 p.m. Cost is $20 for one shot, $40 for two shots, and $60 for three shots.
For information on the preschool and kindergarten programs in Blaine County, and for details on proof of residency and immunizations, go to www.blaineschools.org or call (208) 578-5000.
Wood River Women’s Foundation 2019 Grant Recipients Named
Eleven local nonprofits will be awarded a total of $267,918 in grants from the Wood River Women’s Foundation (WRWF) in 2019.
Grants awarded this year strongly support local youth and families through academic, food security, mental health and outdoor education programs. Funding requests for safe housing for both men and women who are facing critical transitional housing needs were also awarded.
“The requests are so compelling, and every nonprofit is deserving whether they make it through to the end or not,” said Gina Wolcott, chair of the WRWF grants committee. “The nonprofit work that happens in this Valley is highly impactful and our community is truly fortunate for all they do.”
The 2019 grantees will be honored at the WRWF Grants Celebration & Annual Meeting Luncheon to be held Aug. 7 at Trail Creek Cabin. The next round of applications for WRWF funding will begin this fall.
