District weighs in on criticism

Editor's note: The Press offered Coeur d'Alene School District officials an opportunity to set the record straight on erroneous statements made in recent letters to the editor. Here's the response from Laura Rumpler, the district's public information officer.

Statement made: "Academics in the District are suffering. While ISAT scores are slowly improving, lower grades' scores are weak."

FACT: Coeur d'Alene School District's scores on the ISAT, the only constant reference point for the lower elementary grades - third through fifth grades - show an increase in the district's elementary schools. The district is averaging a 10 percent increase over the past three years and almost every elementary school in the school district outperforms the state average. The above information was compiled according to calculations provided to the public at www.sde.idaho.gov and included in the district's Standardized Assessment Report SY2010 available on the district's website for public review.

Statement made: "Last year, the district transferred $3,593,587 year-end fund balance to the employee health insurance reserve and to reinstate furlough days."

FACT: The district used $2,310,000 of its projected $3,593,587 fund balance to balance the 2010/2011 general fund budget due to cuts from the state of Idaho. $200,000 of the fund balance was allocated to benefits. Money from the fund balance did not go to replace furlough days. Taking guidance from Governor Otter and Superintendent Luna, the district allocated $1.3 million of the district's $1.7 million share of the targeted one-time federal education jobs money to reinstate furlough days to put students back into the classroom for three instructional days. The annual school district budget 2010/2011 is posted on the district's website for public review.

Statement made: "The district office continues to grow and is top heavy. The district has hired two, new highly paid Associate Superintendents."

FACT: The district office has reduced in size with 8.5 fewer full-time employees (FTE) equivalent positions since 2009 - four administrator and 4.5 administrative/support staff FTE positions. In 2009, the district had five administrator/director-level positions at the district office: an assistant superintendent, a curriculum director, an assessment director, an assistant director of special education and a telecommunications director. Only two of those positions have been replaced - one associate superintendent and one director of assessments. At the start of this school year, 2010/2011, the Director of Elementary Education and the Director of Secondary Education positions were cut from full-time down to part-time at the district office.