The number of students attending the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind in Gooding has significantly slumped over the last decade, prompting state education officials to explore possibilities for its future.

But at least one piece of the school's destiny is now known - ISDB will house Magic Valley's newest charter school beginning this fall.

The charter for that school, called North Valley Academy Inc., was approved in late December by the Idaho Public Charter School Commission.

An unused portion of ISDB's facility will house the new charter school, said Debra Infanger, registered agent of North Valley Academy Inc.

The plan is for up to 90 charter school students to attend kindergarten through eighth grade beginning this fall at ISDB in nine unused classrooms at the facility.

"Of course we'll be paying rent," Infanger said.

The exact rooms the charter school will use at ISDB are still being decided, but school officials said they plan to share some facilities including the playground, library and gym.

This new use of space at ISDB, which is a century old, should be positive, said Idaho State Board of Education Spokesman Mark Browning. "Anytime we're maximizing state facilities I think that's a good thing."

ISDB authorities agree. "We're hoping that it offers advantages to our students as well as their students," said ISDB Director Mary Dunne.

But this isn't the first collaboration between ISDB and other schools in Gooding - ISDB also houses kindergarten students from the Gooding School District. "It's been a wonderful arrangement," Dunn said.

Enrollment at the charter school will be determined by a spring lottery, Infanger said, which will first be opened to Gooding residents.

The number of students attending ISDB has decreased in recent years. The school currently has about 63 students, but over the last 12 years enrolment numbers have been cut in half, school officials said.

This enrolment decrease was a reason why the Legislature directed the State Board to explore different options for how the school will deliver its services, Browning said. "They're still working on different options."

But the collaboration has ISDB officials feeling confident about the school's future in Gooding.

"I really do feel optimistic over the last few months," said Dunne. "I'm very encouraged by the efforts that the State Board and the interim executive director have made."

Andrea Gates can be reached at 735-3380, or Andrea.Gates@lee.net

Local charter schools Idaho has 30 charter schools, including two in the Magic Valley: • Advanced Regional Technical Education Center in TwinFalls • Xavier Charter School inTwinFalls Besides North Valley Academy in Gooding, the Idaho Department of Education has one other charter school under review, Southern Idaho Learning Center of Twin Falls.