POST FALLS SCHOOL LEVY: Vote yes

I am a senior citizen, a Marine Corp veteran and a supporter of the Post Falls School District Levy. Why? I have learned the following facts about school funding and the importance of this levy.

Fact One: The state does not provide adequate funding for teachers. The state funding per teacher is $49,808 (average). Given our proximity to Washington, the district has to offer higher salaries. Washington salaries are substantially higher — $10,000 to $30,000 more.

Fact Two: The state does not provide adequate funding for non-teaching personnel. The state provides $13.89 per hour for accountants, technology personnel, bus mechanics, bus drivers, paraprofessionals and others. Who can you hire for $13.89?

Fact Three: The state does not provide adequate funding for maintenance. The district receives approximately $600,000 from the lottery for maintenance. The state requires the district to spend $1.2 million on maintenance. The actual cost of maintaining all the buildings and grounds is more than $2 million.

Fact Four: The Post Falls School District needs security upgrades. Unfortunately school tragedies across the nation have taught us this. The detailed list provided by the district include more School Resource Officers, improvements to the buildings to make them more secure and new security cameras. The safety of our children ought to be of paramount importance.

Fact Five: The Post Falls School District is fiscally conservative. Its $5.9 million request is the smallest of the three Kootenai County school districts.

Join me on March 14 and vote YES for Post Falls Schools.

JIM AUCUTT

Post Falls