The Nampa School District board of trustees voted 4-1 Monday to place a $45 million bond measure on the May 2026 ballot, seeking voter approval for two new elementary schools to serve the district’s rapidly growing southern neighborhoods. Nampa’s student enrollment has increased by 2,100 students over the past five years — a 12% jump driven by the residential construction boom across southern Canyon County — and existing elementary schools are operating at or above designed capacity.
The proposed bond would fund construction of a 600-student elementary school near the intersection of Happy Valley Road and Lake Lowell Avenue, and a second 500-student school in the Deer Flat area south of downtown Nampa. Both locations have been identified by the district’s enrollment planning committee as areas with the most critical capacity needs based on housing permit data and demographic projections.
Why Nampa Needs New Schools
Six of Nampa School District’s 16 elementary schools are currently operating above their designed enrollment capacity, with some schools exceeding capacity by more than 15%. Owyhee Elementary, built for 450 students, currently enrolls 530. Iowa Elementary, designed for 400, houses 465. The overcrowding has forced the district to use portable classrooms at four campuses — a temporary solution that Superintendent Paula Kellerer said has reached its practical limits.
“Portable classrooms were never meant to be permanent solutions,” Kellerer told the board during Monday’s meeting at the Nampa School District office on 12th Avenue. “Our students deserve purpose-built learning spaces, and our teachers deserve classrooms that support effective instruction. The growth isn’t slowing down, and we have a responsibility to plan ahead rather than react after the crisis is already here.”
The district’s enrollment projections, based on building permits issued in southern Nampa and residential development patterns, show an additional 1,500 elementary-age students expected within the next four years. Without new facilities, the district would face a choice between implementing boundary changes that significantly increase bus ride times for young students or placing even more portable classrooms on already-crowded campuses.
Property Tax Impact for Canyon County Homeowners
For a Canyon County homeowner with a property assessed at $375,000 — close to the Nampa median — the bond would add approximately $18 per month ($216 annually) to the property tax bill over the 20-year repayment period. The district noted that a previous construction bond from 2006 is expiring, partially offsetting the new levy. The net impact for most homeowners is estimated at $12-15 per month.
Under Idaho law, school construction bonds require a two-thirds supermajority (66.7%) to pass unless filed under the recent simple majority provision, which requires additional state approval. The Nampa board voted to pursue the simple majority path, meaning the bond needs only 50% plus one vote to pass.
Community Response
The Canyon County Education Association, which represents Nampa teachers, endorsed the bond, noting that overcrowded classrooms directly impact student outcomes. Parent groups organized under “Build for Nampa Kids” have begun a grassroots campaign supporting the measure. Opposition has been limited but vocal, with the Canyon County Taxpayers Coalition arguing that the district should prioritize boundary adjustments and operational efficiency before seeking additional taxpayer funding.
What Comes Next
The bond election is scheduled for May 20, 2026. Voters must be registered Canyon County residents within the Nampa School District boundaries. Early voting begins May 6 at the Canyon County Clerk’s office in Caldwell. Community information sessions on the bond will be held at Nampa High School (April 8), Skyview High School (April 15), and Columbia High School (April 22), all starting at 6:30 PM. More information is available at nsd131.org/bond2026.