BOND: Short on information

As a former educator in the Lakeland School District, I am writing to express an opinion on the Lakeland School District’s upcoming $70.9 million bond election on Aug. 27. I have always supported Lakeland School bond levies in the past and have been proud of the way Lakeland has handled their finances, never asking the voters for more than they need.

This bond election is different. They are asking for a new high school when the school district population is virtually the same as it was 12 years ago. They are planning to move the sixth, seventh and eighth grades on one end of the 40-acre site on Lancaster that would meet the needs of those grade levels and could be built for half the cost of a new high school. Sometime in the future, when needed, a new high school could be added to the other end of the 40-acre site like the way Timberlake is set up.

The proper way to run a school bond of this size is to put out a lot more information about their plan so all the people in the district know there is a bond election. Hold community meetings and give your rationale for what you are planning. My wife and I are curious why you are trying to rush this through without informing the Lakeland patrons. We are not against building new facilities and paying for them if they are needed.

DON and DIANN WILHELM

Rathdrum