Levy plan offers students best chance for education, future

As a parent, publisher of this newspaper and a person who cares deeply about the future of this community, I urge everyone to vote yes on Sept. 5 for the plant facility levy.

This vote comes at an important time for all of us. It's time we decide whether we value education and our children.

There was a promise made in 1991 that the Kootenai School would be completed. It wasn't, mainly because the school district ran out of money on other projects and shorted the school.

In the meantime, Kootenai Elementary has existed with six classrooms housed in portable trailers. These portables have no bathrooms or running water and are not handicapped accessible.

The school also lacks a library, a lunchroom, a front door and numerous other ingredients needed for the basics of a quality education.

And yes, it is overcrowded and is getting more so every year as more people move into that portion of the county.

As a result of overcrowding, students who should attend Kootenai are being bused to Washington and Farmin Stidwell elementary schools and that influx is causing those crowded schools to be packed.

There are several subdivisions under construction near Kootenai school and the completion of those homes will definitely mean more students.

The district has looked at the myriad of issues challenging educating students here. The good news is, despite substandard facilities our students are testing better every year and by most measures we are getting the job done in the classroom.

So, if we are getting by and are students continue to do better, why should we spend more money?

A committee mostly comprised of parents has asked that question and many more for 18 months. They discovered that local taxpayers have been getting too good of a deal and that we have been seriously underfunding our facilities.

The main reason is most school-related votes don't pass. The last voter-approved school plant facility passed in 1985 and the last time any major improvements to facilities occurred was 15 years ago.

In addition to completing Kootenai Elementary, passage of this levy would provide for needs throughout the district. Those include: 25 new buses, school kitchen equipment, energy efficient upgrades to school boilers and heaters as well as technologies.

Because this is a levy, all of the money allocated has to be spent on those items. No salaries or other expenses will come out of these funds.

Passage will cost the homeowner $126 per year for taxable property valued at $100,000. This is a two-year levy.

A yes vote should be simple. A local facilities committee has recognized the needs and the district has come up with the best way to fund some improvements.

Construction costs and pressure from increasing student population will continue to rise. By completing Kootenai School now, we will slow student overpopulation as well as bring one school facility up to standards.

I don't see a better plan out there.

That's why the Daily Bee endorses the school plant facility and encourages voters to learn all the facts before casting a ballot on the first day of school, Sept. 5.

David Keyes is publisher of the Bee.