Here's what Cd'A levy will pay for

Friends and neighbors, we need to say what paid school officials can’t: The Coeur d’Alene School District needs your support on March 12.

On that day, local voters will decide whether to renew the district’s two-year Maintenance & Operations levy, which constitutes over 22 percent of the district’s operating budget. This year’s $20 million-per-year proposal would replace the $16 million levy that expires in June.

The levy supplements state funding to meet the unique demands and desires of our community. Some items funded with local voter approval include curricular materials; instruction to meet student needs such as advanced learning programs and literacy interventions; instructional assistants to provide individual attention; School Resource Officers to enhance school safety; nurses and wellness programs; technology to support learning; music, art, athletics and extracurricular activities; facility maintenance; and school bus replacement.

What impact does this request have on property tax bills?

In the past, the school district used the existing tax rate per $1,000 to calculate a potential levy and bond amount. Using that strategy, this year would have allowed the district to seek up to $25 million per year. But the Board of Trustees, cognizant of the tax burden placed on constituents due to accelerated property value assessments, felt restraint should be exercised.

Based on that feedback, our new superintendent, Dr. Steven Cook, and financial advisers evaluated historical growth from new construction and introduced a model where growth effectively pays for the levy increase. The model shows that for a levy of $20 million, a homeowner with an assessed value of $400,000 will see an estimated decrease of about $50 in their school district tax bill next year, assuming their assessed value is unchanged.

If that homeowner’s assessed value increases by 10 percent (well above the 20-year average of 6 percent), the school portion of the tax bill is estimated to increase by less than $9 next year.

The school board appreciated the intent and design of this model and supported the $20 million request, which will allow the district to address new initiatives.

How will the $4 million increase be spent?

Over the past six months, the board worked with district administration, staff, students, parents and community members to evaluate needs. With a budget of $4 million, trustees decided to focus on these initiatives: $2.5 million in staff compensation to enhance retention and recruitment, and $1.5 million to expand mental health resources and increase security personnel, school building budgets and staff training.

Why support $2.5 million in raises for staff?

Few could debate the importance of teachers and school staff in the education of children. It has been proven time and again that quality teachers are the single biggest contributor to the success of a student and school system.

Unfortunately, Idaho is struggling with a teacher shortage, and our district is not immune. Teaching positions once drew hundreds of applicants but now struggle to get a half dozen. Additionally, we see high-quality instructors leaving for higher-paying jobs in Washington or leaving the profession entirely.

A recent change in Washington state funding has led to raises as high as 15 percent in Eastern Washington, creating an even larger pay gap of up to $20,000 for our teachers.

For our classified staff in transportation, food services, maintenance, custodial and support services, the district has been unable to keep up with wage demand caused by low unemployment and Washington’s minimum wage increases.

These factors exacerbate a desperate situation insufficiently addressed at the state level. After much debate and community input, the school board decided it must be a local priority to reduce the pay gap and keep talented teachers and staff with our kids, in a fiscally responsible and reasonable manner for our taxpayers. These funds equate to pay increases of about 4.1 percent, allowing the district to better compete locally and regionally.

Why support the additional $1.5 million in initiatives?

Mental health professionals: Coeur d’Alene has seen more than its share of tragedies related to suicide and mental health struggles in recent years. Last year, local tragedies and anguish increased to epidemic levels. While the district is working collaboratively with agencies and organizations to improve access to help, it’s imperative we expand our programs as a frontline organization that serves almost 11,000 children and teens. To do that effectively, we need additional staff to support students with mental wellness interventions and care.

School security personnel: Students, staff and families must feel safe in their school. Community members often tell us school safety is one of their highest priorities. This levy will permit the district to expand its School Resource Officer program with an additional elementary-based officer. That will give us nine SROs: one at each of our six secondary schools, and three to serve our 11 (soon to be 12) elementary schools. Funds will also be used to add security personnel in our secondary schools to manage entries and monitor the building and grounds.

School building budgets: Teachers shouldn’t need to spend their own money on essential learning supplies, and buildings should have the autonomy and funding to make relevant purchases for educational programming. Funds here will supply school budgets, field trips, guest speakers and instructional items.

Staff training: The district is completing a curriculum audit and anticipates recommendations in the coming months for program expansion and enhancements to increase instructional outcomes. These recommendations will be developed into a strategic plan guiding the district in the coming years. Funds here will provide professional development to teachers and staff in coordination with the strategic plan, with the goal of increasing student learning and achievement.

We hope you find value in the programming and initiatives the Coeur d’Alene School District is providing and proposing for students. We certainly feel this is a reasonable and responsible request that allows the district and community to better support students and staff while respecting the burden on our taxpayers. Please join us in voting yes March 12.

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Casey Morrisroe is chair and Lisa May is vice chair of the Coeur d’Alene School Board.