KTEC: Not cheap, but costs shared

For the past four years I have sat on SD 271's Long Range Planning Committee as a concerned citizen and an interested parent. I have seen the condition of the schools in our district and understand the needs for improvement to get many of them to a common standard. In general, the facilities are barely adequate but not efficient.

As we dissected and determined a list of needs in developing a 10-Year Plan, KTEC was dumped in our laps.

My initial response was AHA! KTEC can address the overcrowding in our high schools and alleviate the need to build a new high school in the near future.

When considering the cost to me as a taxpayer, while not thrilled, I see it as a boon because we are sharing the expense with two other school districts. And right now, we have little on our property tax bills that is going to our schools.

As a parent I support programs that provide our children with an alternative, practical and useful education. Technical education was offered when I was in high school 30 years ago and phased out in favor of promoting four-year college educations. What I know is that not every person has the ability or desire or where-with-all to begin and complete a four- (or five-) year degree plan. We do our children a disservice by not providing an alternative.

KTEC provides a service to the future of our community and our children and deserves your YES vote.

MARY LUANN LARSON

Coeur d'Alene