UPDATED: Judge ends 6-year-old lawsuit over West Ada kindergarten fees

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UPDATED 9/11/2025:Judge Peter Barton granted the West Ada School District’s second request for a summary judgment on a 2019 lawsuit over kindergarten fees, effectively ending the case and dismissing Peyton Gifford and Mollie Gabaldon’s remaining claims. The lawsuit claimed the district’s tuition fees for full-day kindergarten violated the Idaho Constitution’s language mandating free, common public schools. At the time of the lawsuit, West Ada charged $300 a month to enroll children in the second half day of kindergarten class. But full-day kindergarten has been free for West Ada families for the past three years. Accordingly, West Ada wouldn’t provide comment as it is still pending litigation.