Foothills School of Arts and Sciences  Foothills School of Arts and Sciences is an independent private school in Boise, Idaho, educating EL (Early Learners Preschool) ages 3 and 4, along with Kindergarten through 9th grade. The current Headmaster Jon Ninnemann, will be passing the torch at the conclusion of the 2016-2017 school year. Foothills School of Arts and Sciences was founded in 1992 by Susan and John Medlin. It was the first non-sectarian independent school in Boise. Initially housed at the Boise Unitarian Fellowship, the school expanded to use all its available space by its third year of operation with K–6 students. It relocated to its current location in 1995. In 1998, a preschool program was added, funded in part by a grant from the J. A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation. The school added a ninth grade in the 2009-10 school year. The school is an accredited member of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools. Foothills School's campus is located on 8th Street in Downtown Boise; directly between the Boise Public Library and Trailhead Startup Hub. Close proximity to the BoDo District that contains a pedestrian zone with numerous cafes and restaurants. Foothills is also within walking distance of the Idaho State Capitol Plaza, newly constructed City Center Grove Plaza, and many other historic landmarks. The Foothills campus is a block from the entrance of Julia Davis Park and Rose Garden, & the Boise Greenbelt which is 22.5 miles of pathway along the Boise River. Foothills School of Arts and Sciences employs Progressive and Project Based Learning methods including Socratic seminars on high-level books ranging from Shakespeare to Russian literature (such as "The Brothers Karamazov") and psychology books. Teachers encourage students to think for themselves and about the world around them and to ask questions, instead of simply finding answers.