LEVY: Why confidence lacking

Does anyone remember when the Coeur d'Alene School Board announced it was going to hold monthly "public chats" while at the same time eliminating citizens' three minutes of open comment at their monthly board meetings? The Press' Nov. 3, 2010, article announced, "The district plans to hold similar open dialogue meetings every few weeks for at least six months..." Well, "chats" were held in November and December. The main topic of discussion at the chats was the upcoming $26 million Special Levy. (I did learn that the district failed to budget for basic school supplies like pencils and paper, which teachers have to pay for out of their own pockets - outrageous!)

No "chat" was held in January, and none is currently scheduled. I recently e-mailed Hazel Bauman asking when the next chat session will be and have received no response. Meanwhile, although the school board has officially delayed formal adoption of its new policy forbidding citizens' three minutes of open comment at monthly board meetings, it continues to enforce this unadopted policy at its monthly meetings.

I would feel much better about the school board asking for $26 million if I thought the school board was being up-front in its dealings with the concerned public. Unfortunately, I believe they have been attempting to "manage" the public, instead of just giving us the facts, and being responsive to our inquiries. We need greater transparency and partnership with the taxpayers than this Coeur d'Alene School Board has given us.

DUNCAN KOLER

Hayden Lake