Cd'A Schools to float another levy May 16

The Coeur d'Alene School District will ask voters to go to the polls again May 16 to vote on a two-year, $25 million-per-year supplemental levy.

Trustees unanimously voted in favor of another levy attempt Monday during a special meeting of the board.

This new levy request comes after voters in the school district shot down two levies at the polls March 14: a $25 million-per-year supplemental levy that would have been in perpetuity, and $5 million-per-year, five-year school plant facilities reserve levy for safety and maintenance.

The supplemental levy that will be on the ballot May 16 will not be perpetual. Voters will not be asked to approve a school plant facilities reserve levy.

"It's been a horrible week just to think of what our schools could look like, the lives of our students, our teachers, our parents, our families," said Board Chair Rebecca Smith. "Impact of the loss of this levy will be felt in Coeur d'Alene for years to come. It's more than just a school issue, it's a full community issue. There's been the impact of lack of trust, the impact of misinformation, there's the lack of some of us just coming together and moving forward together to support each other. We could all do better, myself included."

When the decision was made by the board, cheers erupted in the parking lot outside the packed Midtown Meeting Center, where people had amassed before the meeting.

The majority of those who turned out showed support for the school district and levy funding, holding up "Yes for Coeur d'Alene Public Schools" election signs as well as signs that read, "Vote yea in May," "Support our schools" and "Re-run the levy."

Music played outside throughout the meeting as several student musicians, many from Lake City High School's pep band, performed beneath a canopy.

Lake City senior Jameson Mattmiller held a sign that read, "No levy, no band" as he stood and danced in support of his bandmates.

"If the levy's gone, there isn't going to be much of anything next year, and band, I know for a lot of us, is a really, really big part of our lives. Honestly, I probably would have dropped out if it weren't for band, like, a while ago … It's something that for a lot of people makes school worth it and enjoyable,” Mattmiller said.

He said it was sad to see the levies not pass, but he was heartened to see so many turn out to show their support for the district running the supplemental levy again, "so that we get the support we need to continue doing what we love."

A few naysayers were among the many supporters, with signs that read, "Not 4ever" and "Stop the fear tactics, band is not at risk."

During the special meeting, Coeur d'Alene Director of Human Resources Eric Davis made it clear that without levy funds, all athletics and extracurricular staffing would be cut by $1.2 million, impacting music programming.

"It includes 265 different coaching stipends, music stipends, yearbook stipends, etc., as well as three athletic directors — two from the high school level and one from the middle school level," Davis said.

He went through a list of cuts that would have to be made if this levy fails in May.

“We would lose all of our law enforcement officers, which right now are nine (security resource officers), for a total of $580,000, and four campus security officers, as well as our safety and security coordinator for another quarter-million dollars," Davis said.

Among the cuts, two elementary schools would have to close and elementary staffing would be reduced, increasing class size from 21 to 30 students for kindergarten and first grades, from 26 to 30 for second and third grades, and from 30 to 35 students in fourth and fifth grades. Half-day kindergarten would also have to go.

“Let me remind you and everybody that’s within the sound of my voice: None of these suggestions are good for kids or good for the district. Not one of them," Davis said. "We take no pleasure up here being the one that gets to speak these out, but understand that’s where we are without that $25 million."

Finance Director Shannon Johnston also gave a presentation about funding, including uncertainties regarding what money the state will actually provide to the district and dispelling misinformation about levy rates.

Trustee Allie Anderton asked if the district could tap into funds it has reserved for land acquisition. Trustee Heather Tenbrink said she would not be comfortable with that because the district needs those funds to buy land to accommodate for the growth the region is experiencing.

Trustee Lesli Bjerke suggested the levy amount should be reduced to a $20 million-per-year request instead of $25 million.

"If indeed it's the wish of the board to drop down to $20 million, I would ask that the board today identify the $5 million that's coming off that list," Superintendent Shon Hocker said as many attendees applauded.

Bjerke declined to identify items to cut from the budget, but said there are places that could likely be trimmed.

"We do have money coming from the state. I don't know what it's going to be, as Shannon said, it's an estimate, but everyone is struggling with inflation now and they're in the same boat as we are," Bjerke said. "We're all struggling with all the extra costs and we're asking for a 25% increase from our previous levy."

Hocker said the Coeur d’Alene School District has not asked for an increase to its supplemental levy for four years.

The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for April 10.