Just the facts

Special to The PressThe breathtaking state funding cuts that have occurred over the last two years have permanently changed the face of our public schools. In four days we will face the most important financial decision ever for our schools.

I understand asking taxpayers to provide local financial support in these harsh economic times will create hardship for many. We have an obligation, however, to provide a quality education to the children of our community.For the last 25 years, voters have decided what type of school district they want and to what degree they want to fund it - demanding more than the state minimum in education. Our community expects, as the norm, that students experience a rigorous curriculum with skilled educators to prepare our students for success in college and the workforce. This has become the benchmark for our school district's success. Student achievement is our No. 1 focus but resources are simply the most significant issue we face.

I will first address school financials to help set the record straight on erroneous information that has spread through the community. I will then touch briefly on our achievements and how our schools support a strong community.Fiscal Responsibility - In the last several years the Coeur d'Alene School District has operated more like an efficient business than ever before. In 2008, we convened a finance advisory panel of five citizens to scrutinize our budget.

The finance advisory panel made 18 recommendations and to date, 15 of those 18 recommendations have been implemented for an initial savings to our district of over $2.4 million. These implemented cost savings included: * eliminate staff positions above state minimum

* reduce site based administrators * reduce central office staffing

* eliminate district paid field trips * reduce staff development

* add fees for extracurricular activities * shift more of the financial burden of employee health insurance to employees

Only three of the recommendations were not implemented: * selling off our bus fleet and contracting transportation services was researched but did not provide guaranteed cost savings

* moving to a 4 day school week did not generate enough savings to offset the negative impact on families * developing a central purchasing department is currently not possible without the funds to construct a facility nor hire someone to manage it

We have spent the past two years taking a scalpel to our district, cutting over $8.8 million out of our general fund. We are positioned to carve out more.Our economic environment has changed drastically and we have adapted. Since I became Superintendent, the district is the leanest it has ever been from the top down, having cut the equivalent of over 7 full time administrative positions at the district office.

For one of the first times in our levy history, passing the levy will not enhance our budget nor bring back cuts from the past two years. It will only help us minimize the devastation of future state reductions. We will continue to make cuts even if both parts of the levy pass.Achievement - Our district outperforms all state averages on the Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). Specifically, our district is the top performer of the 13 large districts in the state, outscoring those districts in both the ISAT and college prep ACT. We have increased our graduation rate by 10 percent over the last seven years to 88.65 percent in 2010. We provide exceptional education value when you look at our achievements alongside our levy tax rate.

The Coeur d'Alene School District ranks the lowest in levy tax rate of the 13 largest districts in Idaho, yet we continue to outperform those districts. Our levy rate will continue to be one of the lowest in the state even with the passage of the levy.Strength of our Community - The levy has been endorsed by The Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce, Jobs Plus, The City of Hayden, Concerned Business of North Idaho, IPC Associated Builders and Contractors, NIBCA and others. These community leaders know that effective schools with robust programs are a significant factor in attracting and retaining business to keep our economy vibrant.

The bottom line is jobs. Coeur d'Alene School District is the second largest employer in Kootenai County. With the passage of the levy we can avoid layoffs of an estimated 115 full-time and 162 part-time employees. These include classroom and special education assistants, bus drivers, secretaries, and custodians. These people support our day-to-day operations and are your neighbors who infuse money into our local economy by living and working here.Our district's mission is to challenge and educate EVERY student, whether that child is struggling to grasp basic concepts or is an advanced learner being rigorously challenged to reach his or her full potential. This is what sets us apart from a business. We are a public school system. Our doors are open to every child regardless of his or her ability or need. It is our moral and legal imperative to educate all children.

Our 10,320 students and the staff who serve them will be greatly impacted by Tuesday's vote. Failure of the levy would wipe out 23 percent of the district's already shrunken budget. Public education in Coeur d'Alene will be devastated without local support. Coeur d'Alene has received good value for its tax dollar: an excellent school system with per-pupil spending among the lowest in both the state and nation. We are not a perfect system but strive each day to change and make the tough choices needed to stay afloat. I ask that you continue to stand by us.

Included with this column is a listing of the $8.8 million in cuts the district has made in the last two years. Please visit our website, cdaschools.org to find more answers about the levy and other financial information.

Hazel Bauman is superintendent of Coeur d'Alene School District.