CHARTER: Pssst: It's a great school

I don't know if everyone is aware of it, but one of the top ranked schools in the nation is located on Kathleen Avenue. It is the Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy and it is not only ranked nationally in academics, but the yearbook has also received national recognition from Herff Jones. 

The school is partially funded by the state, and has no levy system. That means when the state cuts education funding, the public schools hit the property owners up with higher taxes and the Charter school has to get creative.

When is the last time Gov. Otter or a state representative or even our mayor uttered the name Charter Academy, let alone help find some trigger for funding? Let me re-iterate, Coeur d'Alene Charter is ranked one of the nation's top schools. It's open to the public, it's free and for some reason is largely ignored by Idaho's leadership.

I am not disparaging the other schools, they have great teachers, administrators and students, but Charter is the little school that could and did. So the next time you drive down Kathleen or have a conversation about the schools in our little town, let someone know we have one of the best in the country. Then maybe contact an Idaho representative and ask them why would they cut back funding for it.

CHAD SOLSVIK

Coeur d'Alene