LEVY: Don't lose 280 jobs

Unemployment is arguably the biggest challenge facing our nation today. If School District 271's upcoming school levy fails, where will 280 laid-off employees expect to find work?

If the levy fails and our community is unable to provide a quality education, where will students go to obtain a decent education? Private schools are in short supply, and most families cannot afford their tuition. For many working families, homeschooling is simply not an option.

Kootenai Health is the second largest employer in Kootenai County. If our school system is inadequately funded, how will our community attract and retain physicians and desperately-needed nurses? The quality of the public school system is a primary concern of businesses and professionals considering relocating to our area.

Understandably, an average increase of $68/year property tax is a burden on some households. However, it seems that most of those who are against the levy have arguments that are baseless and short-sighted. Is it really worth increasing unemployment, punishing students who have no better options, and devaluing our community status as a whole? What message is sent by having a poorly funded school district? Do we no longer value education in our community? While there is always room for improvement, I truly believe our school board and local school administrators are doing their best to cut costs. Here are the facts facing us today.

Idaho is 50th in the nation in public school funding; we are the bottom of the barrel.

School District 271 has the lowest tax rate of the 13 largest school districts in the state.

If the levy passes, we will still have the lowest tax rate among the 13 largest districts.

If the levy fails, 115 full-time, 162 part-time, and 3 assistant principals will lose their jobs.

If the first option of the levy passes and the second option fails, taxes will not increase, however 150 part-time, 23 full-time and 2 assistant principals will lose their jobs.

(Numbers obtained from the Central Office of the Coeur d'Alene School District, March 2011).

To anyone opposing the levy, please take a moment to look beyond yourself and see the bigger picture. Please consider the ramifications of significant job losses in our community should the levy fail. Please consider the far-reaching effects of a weakened school system. On March 8, please vote YES for OPTION No. 1 and OPTION No. 2. Our wonderful community and especially our children deserve great public schools!

KATIE KLADAR

Hayden