Students Rush Into New High School A Long Time Coming, $18 Million Post Falls High Opens

A dream came true Tuesday as Gov. Dirk Kempthorne snipped the ribbon on the new $18 million Post Falls High School.

After years of wishing and waiting, the new Trojan home became reality. It was a day that left students in awe and almost brought administrators to tears.

As the first bell rang, Kempthorne and other officials ranging from the student body president to the mayor, cut the orange and black ribbons, officially launching a new era.

“On the count of three, we’ll open up what we know has been a lifelong dream,” Principal John Billetz said while standing on a rock near the front door.

He spoke to a sea of students just as anxious to enter their new academic home as they were to catch up with friends they hadn’t seen all summer.

The teenagers then made a mad dash for the doors, rushing into the gym already decorated with colorful posters displaying class pride. They piled into the bleachers, chanting “senior power” and “go Trojans.”

“The school doesn’t belong to the community or belong to teachers or belong to staff or belong to you,” Billetz said. “It belongs to all of us.”

The school’s existence didn’t come easy. After four failed bond attempts, the levy finally passed by a single vote in March 1998.

“Does an individual make a difference?” Kempthorne asked the students referring to the one-vote victory.

“Each one of you have that potential,” he said, later adding, “If you remain focused, there is no limit to what you can accomplish.”

Kempthorne encouraged the students to graduate and make Idaho a part of their future.

He complimented the students on their high ACT college-entrance exam scores and told about attending a graduation last fall at the state prison. About 80 percent of Idaho’s prison population didn’t receive a high school diploma, he said.

“There is not a reason in this world every one of you will not achieve a high school diploma,” Kempthorne said. “If you look out for one another, if you listen to one another and if you care for one another, Post Falls High School will continue to be an example.”

Student Body President Nicole Clutter presented the governor with the first letterman’s jacket from the new Post Falls High School, which Kempthorne put on after shedding his suit coat.

After the ceremony, students slowly exited the gym for first period.

Many mumbled about not knowing where to go in the 193,974-square-foot building with 76 classrooms - double the size of the old high school.

Students in Trojan orange T-shirts with question marks on the back were in the halls to guide lost students. “It’s awesome,” senior Jessica Farris said.

A silver crown reading “senior goddess” adorned Farris’ blond hair, a display of senior pride.

She’s excited about the enthusiasm the new school brings and was glad the governor stopped by for a visit.

“It’s good to see him support us,” she said.

Senior Mike Elmose was more impressed with Kempthorne’s black GMC Suburban.

“I like the car he arrived in,” Elmose said.

The new high school’s opening ends years of detested double-shifting at the middle school and makes room for the skyrocketing student population growth.

The building can hold 1,800 students, but only 1,100 are expected this year.

The old high school building is now the middle school. And the middle school was transformed into a new elementary - Mullan Trail, all of which opened today.

“This building, this school, is becoming the cornerstone of Post Falls,” Mayor Gus Johnson said. “I’ve been waiting for this for seven years.”

Another grand opening for the community is scheduled for Sept. 28 at 6 p.m.