FAQs

The proposed Moscow School District facilities plan represents an important moment for our community. CARE was formed to help educate the community about the proposal, encourage thoughtful discussion and advocate for responsible investment in the future of Moscow students.

We believe Moscow has an opportunity to address significant facility needs while creating new educational opportunities for students.

CARE is advocating for responsible investment in Moscow’s schools and students.

The current proposal is not simply about building a new high school. It is a comprehensive plan that combines renovations, new construction and the repurposing of existing facilities to address multiple needs across Moscow School District.

We believe the question is not simply “Do we build a new high school?” but rather: “How do we responsibly invest in facilities and programs that will serve Moscow students for generations?”

To CARE, responsible education means making thoughtful, strategic investments that balance the needs of today’s students with the long-term needs of the community.

It means asking hard questions, understanding the costs, considering alternatives and making the most of the facilities and resources Moscow already has.

Most importantly, it means ensuring students have access to safe, functional and modern spaces where they can learn, explore their interests and prepare for their futures.

The Moscow School District is asking voters to approve a $64 million levy to fund a multifaceted facilities plan.

Rather than building one entirely new high school, the proposal would combine new construction, renovations and the repurposing of existing facilities across the district.

The plan includes improvements at Moscow High School, Russell School, the current District Office and Lena Whitmore Elementary School.

A new high school is currently estimated to cost between $110 million and $120 million.

The proposed plan takes a different approach: instead of putting the majority of the investment into one new building, it would make strategic improvements across multiple existing facilities while also adding new construction where needed.

The result is a plan that addresses several facility needs, expands student opportunities and creates modern learning spaces for less than $65 million.
More than 20 years ago, Moscow voters considered a $25 million bond to build a new high school. That proposal did not pass. The land that was once being offered for a new high school is no longer available, and construction costs have increased significantly.

Moscow Middle School would become the new Moscow High School campus.

The site already has several important assets, including the high school gym space, football field and the largest parking lot for staff and students.

The proposed improvements would go far beyond basic renovations. They include:

• A new performance hall
• A commons space
• A restructured Career and Technical Education (CTE) facility
• A new library
• A redesigned administrative suite
• Improvements to safety and accessibility
• Enhancements to athletic facilities
• Expanded parking capacity

The campus would be designed to serve students, families and the broader community for many years to come.

Under the proposed plan, Moscow High School would become Moscow Middle School, creating a more appropriate use of both existing facilities.

The current high school building is not well suited to meet the needs of a modern high school, but it is a safe and appropriately sized facility for the current middle school population. The existing high school campus currently serves students in grades 9–12. With the proposed transition, the campus would instead serve students in grades 6–8.

The move would also allow the district to better align facilities with the educational needs of students. High school students generally have significantly more elective and specialized course offerings, which require flexible spaces and facilities that the current high school site does not adequately provide. Middle school students have fewer elective offerings and different facility needs, making the current high school building a better fit for grades 6–8.

No. The transition to the current high school site is not intended to be the district’s long-term middle school plan.

Moscow School District owns the field adjacent to the current property on East D Street and has already worked extensively with an architect on plans for the future development of that site.

The current seven-year levy would fund the first phase of the district’s facilities plan. Once that levy is complete, the district would be positioned to activate Phase 2, which includes the long-term vision for the middle school site.

This phased approach allows the district to address immediate facility needs now while continuing to plan and invest for the future—rather than attempting to fund every facility need at once.

Parking is a significant challenge at the current high school.

There are currently roughly 300 more cars than available parking spaces at the existing high school site. Moving the high school to the Moscow Middle School campus would provide substantially more parking for staff and students throughout the school day, along with overflow parking for school and community events.

Career and Technical Education prepares students for success after high school while strengthening Idaho’s workforce and economy.

CTE today encompasses far more than traditional vocational education. Programs can include:

• Agriculture, food and natural resources
• Engineering and technology
• Health professions
• Trades and industry
• Family and consumer sciences
• And many other career pathways

Moscow is home to a robust network of businesses, health care providers, industries and community partners that can help students explore these fields and develop career-ready skills.

Current CTE opportunities at Moscow High School are limited in part by the facilities available. Local partnerships, including support from organizations such as Gritman Medical Center, have helped expand opportunities, but facilities should not be the limiting factor in what students can access.

The proposed plan would create a dedicated and significantly improved CTE space, allowing Moscow to expand hands-on learning and career exploration.

With the right facilities, Moscow could create CTE opportunities that serve students enrolled in public schools, private schools and home schools while connecting education more directly with the needs of the local workforce.

Rather than abandoning or selling the Russell School site, the proposed plan would invest in the facility and repurpose it to house Paradise Creek Alternative High School.

Moscow School District offices would also relocate to Russell.

This would eliminate the annual cost of renting the alternative high school’s current space and allow Paradise Creek Alternative High School to transition to Russell in 2028, when the current lease expires.

Lena Whitmore is considered a sound school building, but its mechanical and building systems need significant updates.

A complete HVAC replacement would be at the center of the proposed improvements.

While HVAC may not be the most visible investment, it can have long-term benefits for students and staff. A.B. McDonald Elementary School received similar upgrades, resulting in improved air quality, lower energy costs and a more comfortable learning environment.

Investing in Lena Whitmore’s infrastructure would help preserve the school and allow it to serve Moscow families for generations.

The proposed levy is $64 million and would fund the projects outlined in the Moscow School District facilities plan.

The levy would be structured over seven years.

The projected household cost is approximately $288 per $100,000 of estimated home value annually for seven years.

This estimate does not account for the homeowner’s exemption or potential state facilities funding that could reduce the amount paid by local taxpayers.

The homeowner’s exemption reduces the taxable value of an eligible primary residence. Because the proposed levy is calculated based on taxable property value, an eligible homeowner’s actual cost could be lower than the initial estimate.

Yes. Idaho provides school districts with facilities funding through the state’s School District Facilities Fund.

Moscow School District is currently projected to receive approximately $1.9 million in state facilities funding for the 2026–27 school year.

State funding can reduce the portion of facilities costs ultimately borne by local taxpayers.

Potentially. The amount of state facilities funding available can affect the local taxpayer impact.

For example, communities in the Whitepine School District recently passed a school levy. After the state’s annual School District Facilities Fund allocation was applied, approximately 86% of the levy was offset for local taxpayers.

If Moscow received approximately $1.9 million in state facilities funding and that amount were applied to the proposed levy, the estimated household cost would be approximately $238 per $100,000 of home value, before accounting for the homeowner’s exemption.

Actual taxpayer costs will depend on the final levy, property values, state funding and other factors.

If the levy doesn’t pass, the challenges our schools are facing won’t disappear. Construction costs and the cost of labor will continue to rise, making it more expensive to address these needs in the future. Our superintendent and district leadership have spent years working toward a thoughtful, long-term solution to improve our school facilities and educational opportunities.

We hope our community will take the time to understand the plan and make a decision based on the needs of our students today and for generations to come, rather than counting on a Plan B. The challenges are here now, and delaying them comes at a cost. Moscow’s students deserve a solution, and the time to act is now.

Because waiting has a cost.
Construction costs have increased substantially since Moscow last considered a major investment in a new high school more than 20 years ago.

The land that was once available for a new high school is no longer available, and the cost of building an adequate new high school has grown dramatically.
Meanwhile, existing buildings continue to age and student needs continue to evolve.

The proposed plan provides an opportunity to address facility needs now, expand educational opportunities and make strategic investments before costs increase further.

Moscow students are the primary beneficiaries, but the impact extends beyond the classroom.

Modern, functional school facilities can support:

• Better learning environments
• Expanded career and technical education
• Improved health and safety
• More accessible community spaces
• Stronger connections between students and local employers
• More efficient use of existing district facilities
• Facilities that can serve students and families for decades

Investing in education is also an investment in the broader Moscow community and the future of Idaho’s workforce.

Start by learning about the proposal and talking with your friends, family and neighbors. You can also get involved here.

Ask questions. Review the plan. Attend community discussions. Share accurate information. And, most importantly, make a plan to vote in November.

Moscow’s students will live with the decisions we make today. This is an opportunity for our community to invest thoughtfully in the next chapter of Moscow education.