Kuna Joint School District voters approved a $62 million bond measure Tuesday with 58% support, providing funding for the construction of a new 800-student middle school in the rapidly growing southern Kuna area, along with renovations to two existing elementary schools and technology upgrades district-wide. The bond required a two-thirds supermajority to pass under Idaho law, which means the 58% approval fell short of the 66.7% threshold — but under a recent legislative change allowing simple majority passage for school construction bonds, the measure cleared the lower bar and will proceed.
The bond election drew the highest voter turnout for a Kuna school measure in over a decade, with 4,200 of the district’s approximately 11,000 registered voters casting ballots. The result reflects the community’s recognition that Kuna’s explosive residential growth has outpaced the school district’s capacity to serve its students in appropriately sized, modern facilities.
Why Kuna Needs a New Middle School
Kuna’s two existing middle schools — Kuna Middle School and Silver Trail Middle School — are both operating above their designed capacity. Kuna Middle School, built in 1998, was designed for 650 students but currently houses 820. Silver Trail, which opened in 2015, was built for 750 students and already enrolls 790. District enrollment projections, based on building permit data and demographic trends, show middle school enrollment growing by another 400-500 students over the next five years.
Superintendent Wendy Johnson told the school board that without a new facility, the district would be forced to implement split schedules or portable classrooms — options she described as “educationally unacceptable and a disservice to our families.”
“Our community made a clear statement tonight that they value their children’s education and are willing to invest in facilities that match the quality of instruction our teachers provide,” Johnson said following the vote. “This bond allows us to stay ahead of growth rather than constantly playing catch-up.”
What the $62 Million Bond Funds
The new middle school, which will be built on a 30-acre site the district purchased in 2024 on Cloverdale Road south of Kuna, will accommodate 800 students in grades 6-8. The 125,000-square-foot facility will feature flexible classroom spaces, a full-size gymnasium, a performing arts stage, a commercial-grade kitchen, science and technology labs, and outdoor athletic fields including a track and soccer/football field.
The bond also allocates $8 million for renovations at Reed and Crimson Point elementary schools, including HVAC upgrades, roof replacement, and ADA accessibility improvements. An additional $4 million funds district-wide technology infrastructure, including classroom interactive displays, updated computer labs, and expanded Wi-Fi coverage across all buildings.
Property Tax Impact on Kuna Homeowners
The $62 million bond will be repaid over 20 years through property tax assessments on properties within the Kuna Joint School District boundaries. For a homeowner with a property assessed at $400,000 — roughly the median in Kuna — the bond will add approximately $22 per month ($264 annually) to their property tax bill.
District business manager Craig Willis noted that the bond replaces a previous levy that is expiring, so the net increase to most homeowners will be less than the $22 figure suggests. Willis estimated the actual net increase for most households at $14-18 per month, depending on their property’s assessed value and the expiring levy amount.
Bond supporters, organized under the “Build for Kuna’s Future” campaign, argued that the investment protects property values by maintaining quality schools, which are consistently cited as a top factor in homebuying decisions. Opponents, led by the Kuna Taxpayers Coalition, questioned the project’s scope and advocated for a smaller bond focused solely on the middle school without the elementary renovations and technology spending.
What Comes Next
Design work for the new middle school begins immediately, with the district targeting a groundbreaking in spring 2027 and student occupancy for the fall 2028 school year. The architectural firm CSHQA of Boise has been selected to design the facility. Community input sessions on the design will be held in May and June at Kuna High School. Parents and residents can follow project updates on the district’s website at kunaschools.org/bond2026.