VOTE: Yes for schools & Citylink

I am writing in support of our local schools and public transportation, both of which are on the ballot this November. As the Project SEARCH instructor employed by the Coeur d’Alene School District, I see firsthand how vital these services are. Our program focuses on teaching employment skills to high school students with disabilities, with the ultimate goal of competitive employment for all our graduates. Over the past 16 years, our program has helped more than 100 graduates from the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, and Lakeland school districts gain employment and become local taxpayers.

Many of our employed graduates depend entirely on Citylink transit services to get to and from their jobs, medical appointments, and grocery shopping. The upcoming ballot advisory question could put this vital service in jeopardy. Citylink is a lifeline for our community. The service is primarily funded by federal and state grants, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and the municipalities it serves (Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Dalton Gardens and Huetter). 

While Kootenai County manages and oversees the system, it does not solely fund Citylink. Additionally, Kootenai Health provides financial matching support as a key healthcare stakeholder. This crucial bus system will only be able to grow to other areas of our county, like Rathdrum and beyond, if it remains in place.

I want to see our schools thrive and our graduates continue to have reliable transportation options. I will be voting “Yes” for Coeur d’Alene Schools and “Yes” for Kootenai County to continue managing our bus system, and I urge my neighbors to do the same.

THERESA MORAN

Coeur d’Alene