CDA SCHOOL LEVY: Get informed and vote

The Coeur d’Alene School District levy will be on the May 16 ballot, so I take this opportunity to remind everyone to vote, doesn’t matter how you vote just be sure to vote. Don’t let a small number of regular voters determine your tax bill. And if you get a chance, visit the district website to see a list of positions that will be furloughed or possibly eliminated if the levy doesn’t pass. Positions are the biggest driver in any operating budget and these titles will tug at your heartstrings. This list contains 176 “staff” positions and 32 “teacher” positions. Sounds like a lot of people may lose their jobs but having worked in education and created such a list from an HR perspective, follow the logic and the expense.

Don’t let sentimental articles, letters or mailers guide you. Ask yourself, are these positions hourly or on-call workers or are they full-time employees? Are they fully funded positions with benefits or just “paid for time worked” during the school year? Are they instructional or support staff? Does a body currently occupy the position or is the position “open” with nobody on payroll and just funded for future employment so no harm no foul? Can the district still perform in the future without this staff?

And finally, why are no administrative or management positions listed because there’s a rumor the district is heavy with administrative staff. Interesting. So bottom line, get informed and vote on May 16.

G. WILE

Coeur d’Alene