LEVY: Best for area families

Does the School Levy equal community independence? Self-reliance and independence is a beautiful thing! We learn control, obedience, pride, accountability and ownership when we become self-reliant and independent. We are all independent community members at various stages of dependency. There are times when we are able to be independent and times in life when we have to be uncomfortably dependent, causing us to feel out-of-control in our surroundings and day to day life.

Often times I’ve heard parents talk about how they want their children to contribute half or all of the purchase price of their child’s first vehicle. The parents reasoning behind this theory is simple … independence! They want their child to learn early in life to rely on themselves, to feel proud and take ownership over their purchased vehicle.

I think most residents can agree with me when I say “I choose to live here because I love our city.” This is not a city where people just happen to break down. This is a city that residents have picked up and left jobs, family, homes to live here and begin a new exciting chapter in their lives. We take ownership in our city and are proud of it.

Me being the mother of three daughters all enrolled in the Coeur d’Alene School District wants more than anything for our parents, educators and county residents to take ownership of our wonderful schools and be proud to send our children and grandchildren to school each day.

The Maintenance and Operations Levy accounts for 20 percent of the district ‘s general fund budget, giving us 20 percent local independence. As members of this inspiring community, we only want what’s best for our families and our surroundings. Let’s take ownership over our share, be proud to do so and continue to be a community of independent individuals striving to better ourselves and influence those around us.

RUTH MERRILL

Coeur d’Alene