On January 14, 2026, Dr. Bub reached out to Idaho Lawmakers to thank them for their dedication to public education and show how their decisions have positively impacted our district. Please find the letter in full below.
Dear Idaho Lawmakers,
As you begin the legislative session, I want to thank you for your commitment to public education. As Idaho’s largest school district, West Ada serves nearly 40,000 students and employs close to 5,000 dedicated educators and staff. The decisions you make during this session have a direct and meaningful impact on our students, our workforce, and the future of the communities we serve.
You deserve results and below is a snapshot of your impact at WASD.
Your Investment
West Ada Results
HB 292: $33.4 million (FY 2026)
West Ada’s levy rate has been reduced to just 7 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. That is $35 in annual taxes to WASD for a $500,000 home.
HB 521: $150 million
Spending $21 million to build Independence Elementary, opening this August, proactively addresses rapid enrollment growth. Without this new school, nearby Star Elementary would exceed capacity by 250 students, with overcrowding projected to reach nearly 400 students by 2028.
Allocated $12.8 million to purchase a facility for West Ada’s new Career Technical Education Center in Meridian which expands access to high-demand, workforce-ready programs. This center will support pathways in welding, firefighting, EMT, and residential construction, while enabling new programs such as JROTC and power sports—directly aligning education with regional workforce needs.
Literacy Funding: $6 million
West Ada made a strategic early-learning investment that is already paying dividends. State-reported testing from the Idaho Report Card shows Kindergarten literacy grew from 77.2% in 2023 to 85.4% in 2025, improving outcomes while reducing the need for later intervention.
Education Budget
Over the past four years, West Ada has received annual salary and benefit funding increases averaging 4.46%, supporting workforce stability, retention, and competitiveness.
Health Insurance Funding
Thanks to the increased Health Insurance Discretionary Funding, West Ada restructured our health insurance plan by more than 40%, lowering monthly family premiums from $1,063 in 2022 to $621 in 2026.
At West Ada, responsible fiscal planning and data-driven decision-making guide every dollar we steward. Our focus is simple and unwavering: ensuring every student will learn, grow, and succeed by graduating college and career ready. We invite you to visit West Ada and see firsthand how your financial commitment is Preparing Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s Challenges.
Thank you for your partnership and support of Idaho’s students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Derek Bub
Superintendent of Schools
