School district gets earful from survey

COEUR d’ALENE — Eight hundred and twenty-seven local residents made their voices heard in an online survey conducted by the Coeur d’Alene School District.

According to district spokesman Scott Maben, the survey was “intended to help guide the Board’s discussion and decision on setting the levy amount for the March 2019 ballot.” The survey was “an advisory survey only, not a statistical survey using scientific methodology,” he said.

Voting took place for two weeks and closed at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.

Before voting, survey participants first had to watch three short videos. To watch the videos, go to: http://bit.ly/2BI5xFq

In the videos, Superintendent Steve Cook explains to viewers how the levy fits into the district’s budget. Cook has proposed making the district’s maintenance and operations levy perpetual, eliminating the opportunity for residents to cast a ballot on the levy each two years. He has also suggested increasing the levy from $16 million per year to $20 million per year. The levy currently contributes 24 percent of the school district’s operations budget, Cook says in the videos.

The survey contained multiple questions. Those who preferred to decrease the levy were led to a separate set of follow-up questions than those who preferred to increase the levy, said Maben. Not everyone who began the survey finished it, he said.

Question five of the survey gave voters the choice of decreasing, maintaining, or increasing the current $16 million levy. More than two-thirds, 68 percent, voted to increase it, while 22 percent wanted to maintain its current level and 10 percent wanted to decrease it.

Question four asked respondents about their connection to the school district. Employees of the school district made up 37 percent of those surveyed. Parents and guardians of current students comprised 59 percent of respondents, while parents and guardians of former students constituted another 23 percent. More than 70 percent of respondents said they were registered voters and/or school district taxpayers. People could choose more than one response for question four, said Maben.

Of those who wanted to increase the levy above its current $16 million per year level, 88 percent would support an increase to $17.5 million per year, and 82 percent would support a jump to $20 million per year, according to survey data.

That level of support dropped when respondents were asked whether they would support making the levy permanent. However, 67 percent of those who wanted to increase the levy supported making it permanent, with 33 percent in favor of requiring voter approval each two years.

The survey gave respondents an opportunity to write comments for the school district’s consideration. Of the 257 comments received, many question a levy increase.

“I feel the District is not wise with the money they have,” said one respondent.

“No levy!! As a citizen on a fixed income, I must live on a lower budget and so should the school district. Have the teachers pay more of their health care, I do,” wrote another.

“The levy appears to fund costs, which should not be the burden of the taxpayer, including raises for teachers and their ever-increasing benefit packages. Their pay and benefits are outrageous. They have more money in retirement than most working families in Idaho. They have better health coverage. And, honestly, most of those teachers I have known, or had the unfortunate experience of having them teach my children, were the most ill-equipped, biased, and money-grubbing individuals in our community,” said another commenter.

A number of those who want to decrease the levy argue that state funds, not local funds, should pay for the district’s expenses.

“More State funding needs to be implemented. Take the $188 million Idaho is spending on illegal immigrants and put it towards school funding,” said one person.

“We need to be down in Boise demanding the legislature fully fund education!” said another.

Still others expressed skepticism about the district’s previous use of funds.

“I support all of the things the levy would be used for. However, the CDA school district has a very bad habit of asking for levy and bond money and either not doing due diligence or using the money in a way it wasn’t intended. It is very frustrating to vote for something to improve things for my children to see it wasted on poor planning.”

Some commenters had concerns about making the levy permanent at a certain amount.

“If the levy was made in perpetuity what would happen if they needed an increase? Would it be increased with inflation?” wrote one.

Another person asked, “I would like more info about the perpetual levy. Is there a way to rescind this if there is an economic crisis?”

Supporters of a levy increase also spoke up in the survey comments.

“I appreciate the idea to stop spending time and funds every two years to re-educate voters for something that should be permanent. Its a win win if it passes. I’ll vote yes. Thank you!” said one respondent.

“It’s pathetic how low our teachers are paid. We want our students to have the best education and frankly we’re tired of our state legislators leaving education as an afterthought. We are in support of whatever is needed to increase the quality of education here. Thanks for your efforts,” said another.

“From our Governor to our Superintendent the message is consistent: we need to invest more in our educational system: buildings, electronics, books, people (salaries and benefits). Coeur d’Alene patrons have always been supportive...once again we need to step up,” said another respondent.

A full survey report will be attached to the Dec. 3 school board meeting packet, said Maben.

However, one respondent warned, “I suggest being very careful with using the results of this survey in decision making. The videos were long and the survey will probably only be completed by those who deeply support education spending or those who are seriously opposed. I doubt this survey will give you any sense of how the general electorate may feel.”