SCHOOLS: Separate steak from baloney

Shon Hocker, Coeur d’Alene School District superintendent, is back at the trough, literally begging for more of your hard earned tax dollars.  

On Jan. 28, he wrote of a $6 million shortfall in the Coeur d’Alene public school district budget. In that lengthy article, he proclaimed the shortfall was largely due to a decrease in government funding due to a substantial decrease in student ENROLLMENT. Exactly one month later his proclamation shifts blame to funding based on student ATTENDANCE.

Perhaps ENROLLMENT is down (even with population growth) because parents don’t feel Coeur d’Alene public schools are delivering a quality education. It’s like paying for a steak but getting baloney. Parents have taken a more hands-on approach by willingly taking on the time and expense of home schooling or opting for other alternatives to public education.  

At the end of his latest article of solicitation, Mr. Hocker refers to public education as “…free common schools.” Perhaps that’s his explanation for the baloney. 

KAREN MILACEK

Post Falls