'They voted for their kids'

COEUR d'ALENE - Voters in the Plummer-Worley Joint School District approved a supplemental property tax levy Tuesday that will bolster the district's budget by $550,000 this year and next year.

It was the second time the $1.1 million two-year levy was placed before voters in the district located in Benewah and Kootenai counties. It was rejected in May and the district was forced to make deep budget cuts to fill a $379,000 shortfall for this school year.

The measure passed Tuesday with 60 percent voter approval. Successful passage required more than 50 percent.

"We're elated," said Superintendent Judi Sharrett on Wednesday.

The district's trustees met for a special meeting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, just hours after the election, and they reinstated funding for the district's athletics program and for other items cut from the budget last spring. The district will also be returning to a 5-day school week, after scaling back to a 4-day week, and going to a full-day kindergarten program.

"I'm absolutely delighted with the way this community came together to support their children," Sharrett said. "They voted for their kids."

There were 947 total votes cast, with 565 in favor of the levy and 382 against.

Of the total votes, 590 were cast in Benewah County precincts where 394 votes were in favor of the levy and 196 were against it.

In the school district's Kootenai County precincts, 357 votes were cast with 171 in favor of the levy and 186 against it.