LEVY: Failure is not an option

I am writing to encourage everyone to vote “yes” on the March 10 maintenance and operations levy for the Coeur d’Alene School District. The levy represents 20 percent of the district’s budget. Thousands of children will suffer if it isn’t passed.

One issue the levy will address is classroom size, which is too high. My fourth-grader has 32 students in his class, and despite his teacher’s best efforts, she cannot provide individual attention to every student at risk of falling behind. When I was a child, teachers had aides to help them. In modern schools, they’re completely on their own. I know how difficult the situation is because I volunteer at the school two mornings a week. My child’s teacher is excellent, but hard work and excellence is not enough to compensate for the fact that her class simply has too many children in it.

We have incredible, dedicated teachers in the Coeur d’Alene School District. I see the sacrifices they make daily to reach out to children in need, but when 32 children are crammed into one classroom, some of them will fall through the cracks.

If you have children, you already know how difficult the situation is. If you don’t have children, you still have a vested interest in passing this levy — our region’s economy is dependent on having educated workers, educated voters and educated public servants. Please vote “yes” on March 10 for our children, our community and our economy.

BARB HALLETT

Coeur d’Alene