10 big education stories of 2016

Dec. 29--TWIN FALLS -- The year's biggest education stories included new schools, changing leadership and tighter campus security.

Here's a look back at 10 stories that had the most impact in 2016:

School district

approves payout

Over the summer, the Twin Falls School District gave one of its top administrators a $94,108.26 payout and kept the decision secret.

The district wrote a check in late June to director of support services Clara Allred. She announced her retirement a week later, saying she was leaving for "personal reasons."

The school board accepted her retirement during a special meeting on the Fourth of July.

The reason for the payout and Allred's departure still remains unclear. The Times-News sued the school district to obtain a copy of the separation agreement.

As part of the payout, Allred received $81,500 from the school district, plus $12,228.26 -- the cash value of 242 accumulated hours of vacation leave. She also receives post-employment group health insurance coverage.

Since Allred left the job, the school district has made changes in the support services department. It hired new director Mike Gemar and now bids out services for students who have special needs. Services were previously contracted with a company called SMB Center.

Twin Falls schools shaken by gun crimes

In May, two gun-related crimes in less than 24 hours affected Twin Falls school campuses.

A student at Robert Stuart Middle School discharged a handgun in a classroom. Police called it an "accidental discharge" and arrested three students. No one was injured.

The next day, Canyon Ridge High School student -- 15-year-old Vason Widaman -- was riding his bicycle during a weekend afternoon when he killed in a drive-by shooting.

The school district sent an automated message from Dobbs to parents saying the two incidents likely weren't related.

But posts on social media websites circulated with rumors of additional school threats. Dobbs said police told him none were credible.

The Monday after the incident at Robert Stuart, 155 students were absent -- about 15 percent of the student body. That was about twice as many as usual, but included absences for all reasons, including illnesses and safety-related concerns.

A makeshift memorial for Widaman at the intersection of North College Road and Northern Pine Drive was surrounded by balloons, candles and flowers. Canyon Ridge's student council also planned activities to remember Widaman.

On Dec. 20, police arrested two suspects in the murder case: Jose G. Alvarez, 20, of Buhl, and Gerardo Raul Chavez, 19, of Buhl.

At Robert Stuart and Canyon Ridge, several extra police officers were on each campus during the spring. And the Twin Falls Police Department stepped up its patrols around the schools.

Robert Stuart students weren't allowed to bring backpacks for the rest of the school year. At Canyon Ridge High, students were required to come into the school using the front entrance and side entrances were locked.

High schooler takes mom to prom

A Times-News story about a Canyon Ridge High senior asking his mother -- who has brain cancer -- to go to prom with him made headlines nationwide.

Dylan Huffaker asked his mother, Kerry Huffaker, to be his date in the spring. Kerry received a diagnosis earlier that year of the most aggressive form of brain cancer. She was given nine to 20 months to live.

"I've really tried to keep my head in today," Huffaker told the Times-News a week before prom. But "things pop up and scare me," she said -- like who's going to dance with Dylan at his wedding?

Melissa Osen, a social worker at St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute, stepped in to help organize details of the prom night and local businesses provided donations.

New Twin Falls elementary schools

Two new Twin Falls elementary schools -- Rock Creek and Pillar Falls -- opened in August.

They're the city's first new elementary campuses in more than 20 years and will alleviate overcrowding as Twin Falls continues to grow.

Voters approved a nearly $74 million bond in 2014 to build the two new elementary schools and South Hills Middle School, which opens in August 2017.

Hundreds of people attended grand opening ceremonies -- which included ribbon cuttings, speeches and tours -- in early August at Rock Creek and Pillar Falls.

Each school is two stories tall, has pods of classrooms organized by grade level and can accommodate up to 650 students.

To prepare for opening the new schools, Twin Falls school trustees -- after getting a recommendation from a 26-member rezoning committee -- approved new attendance boundaries in January for all elementary and middle school campuses.

Superintendent announces retirement

After leading the Twin Falls School District for more than 14 years, superintendent Wiley Dobbs announced this fall he plans to retire Sept. 1, 2017.

Dobbs, a 1976 Twin Falls High alumnus, became superintendent in July 2003.

His departure will leave a big hole to fill for south-central Idaho's largest school district, with about 9,300 students.

This spring, the school board plans to hire a new superintendent after going through an extensive search process, with the help of the Idaho School Boards Association.

A new superintendent will start July 1 and will work with Dobbs for a couple of months during the transition period.

Dobbs started his career as a teacher in 1983. Over the years, he became principal at Magic Valley High School, principal at Vera C. O'Leary Junior High School and the school district's director of operations.

Voters approve new Kimberly school

Kimberly voters approved a $14 million bond in May to build a new elementary school, to renovate an existing school and buy land for a future school site.

It will cost about $11 million to build a new elementary school on a 10-acre property north of Center Street. The project is slated for completion by June 2018.

The project will go out to bid in February and construction could start in March, depending on the weather.

Tax rates should remain steady for voters. That's because an existing bond for Kimberly High School was paid off sooner than expected.

Kimberly only has one elementary school and it's one of the largest in Idaho, with more than 900 students.

The existing elementary school will receive renovations and upgraded security features once the new campus is built.

Attempted kidnapping in Burley

In April, a Burley man attempted to kidnap four girls, police said. A police report said the man tried to lure a few girls away from the White Pine Intermediate School campus by offering them candy and money, grabbing them and telling them he was a family member.

Another girl reported the man grabbed her arm and tried to drag her across the street while she was walking to school.

All the girls escaped.

Vadian Dougal, 51, Burley is accused of second-degree attempted kidnapping and a four-day trial is slated to begin in early February.

Dougal was arrested at his home in April along with Melvin DeWayne Simpson, 40. Charges were later dismissed against Simpson.

The incident shocked educators, parents and community members across the Magic Valley. Schools talked with students and took a closer look at security procedures. The Cassia County Sheriff's Office increased patrols.

Remembering the lives of teenagers

The Magic Valley mourned the deaths of several teenagers who died in 2016.

In late January, Taylor Biggs -- a 14-year-old freshman at Twin Falls High -- died from injuries suffered in a ski accident at Soldier Mountain Ski Area in Fairfield. She was participating in a school ski club trip.

The school held a vigil outside around its rock, which was painted dark blue with white letters: "Fly High Taylor Biggs."

"She loved life," Taylor's grandmother Carolyn Biggs told the crowd. "She had so much to offer."

Twin Falls High also held a dress-up day to honor Taylor, encouraging students to wear superhero or anime costumes.

In July, family members and friends mourned the death of Terex Hatfield -- who would have been an incoming Twin Falls High senior -- during a vigil. He was killed in a watercraft collision on Anderson Reservoir.

The words "Rest in Paradise T Hatty" was painted on the school rock. On the back of the rock: Hatfield 12.

Terex's mother Jill Hatfield told the crowd: "He was so strong physically and mentally. He loved everybody. Terex was his own person. He would do anything for his little sister. It didn't matter if it wasn't cool."

Hatfield played for the Twin Falls varsity baseball team and was a member of the Twin Falls Cowboys American Legion team.

In late November, Filer High School freshman Hallie West Weighall, 14, died in a utility-task vehicle accident. The school held a candlelight vigil to remember her.

Filer school allegations

In September, the Filer Police Department investigated three school employees after anonymous allegations of misconduct.

But a couple of weeks later, the Filer School District announced there was no evidence of misconduct and employees returned to work.

The employees -- who weren't named -- were placed on leave Sept. 2. A note that day from the school district was signed by middle school principal Shane Hild, who was temporarily named the district's acting superintendent until the investigation concluded.

Jerome High opens new wing

Jerome High School opened a new wing of its building in late August. Renovations cost about $19 million -- paid for using a nearly $24 million bond voters approved in March 2014.

Money was also used for classroom additions and parking lot improvements at other Jerome school campuses.

Renovations helped modernize and expand the 1970s-era high school. More than 100 people attended a dedication ceremony and tour of the new wing.

During the ceremony, Jerome High principal Nathan Tracy told visitors: "This is an amazing facility and I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised when you go in."

Projects included creating a second gymnasium, new cafeteria, new science, art and drama classrooms, a new administrative office, renovating the auditorium, adding new classrooms and revamping parking lots. Some final work was slated for completion by late December.

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(c)2016 The Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho)

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