LEVY: Do much more

In response to Jim Hollingsworth’s letter to the editor, levies don’t necessarily pay for teachers’ salaries. So what are you asking for? Do you want teachers to be poor like the rest of us or not get raises like the rest of us? Maybe both? So the general population doesn’t earn raises? Obviously you are upset about the taxes you have to pay to help pay for the levies. A quick search on the Coeur d’Alene School District No. 271 website gives you this breakdown:

CURRENT LEVY DOLLARS SUPPORT:

• Ongoing reduction in class size initiative

• New curriculum materials/textbooks for students — a multi-year plan to align with the state’s recommended text replacement cycle

• School Resource Officers (SROs) for safety

• Student transportation beyond state minimum

• Athletics, music, performing arts and extra-curricular activities

• Para professionals and staff who support student learning

• Advanced academic support for high achievers (ALP) and remediation for struggling students

• Maintenance, groundskeeping and repair of school buildings and facilities

• Technology devices and tools to enhance student learning

ADDITIONAL LEVY DOLLARS WILL SUPPORT:

• Bus purchases with 3-point harness safety belts

• English Language Arts curriculum adoption

• Resources to support class size reduction targets

And the district is also asking for money for construction. Maybe reduction in class size would mean another teacher or two, but it is pretty obvious that the levy helps support other costs.

TERRENCE ANDERSON

Coeur d’Alene