Losing activities would hurt all of community

Can you imagine Sandpoint without extracurricular activities? No more football, volleyball, soccer, wrestling, theater, academic decathlon, etc.   Unfortunately that is exactly what we will have if the school levy does not pass on Feb. 24. 

With 100 percent of the athletic and activity budget placed in the levy, schools will not have funding for extracurricular activities if it fails. It is also very unlikely that our school district would institute a pay-to-play program as the cost to each student would be substantial. Even if they were able to maintain some minimal program, with more than 20 percent of staff salaries in the levy, around 100 school district employees will lose their jobs and many of those will be coaches and advisors. Of the bottom 75 teachers and administrators on the seniority list the following serve a dual role as coaches and advisors: myself, Karen Alsager, Adam Tajan, Damien Gooding, Mike Mitchell, Brian Arthun, Tyler Haynes, Terry Christianson, KC MacDonald, Michael Gearlds, Aaron Gordon, Ryan Dignan, Greg Schuh, Mike Martz, Jeannie Hunter, and Megan Olson. 

Losing activities would hurt our community. Studies show that teenagers who participate in sports are less likely to smoke, abuse alcohol/drugs, be promiscuous, and drop out of school. Extracurricular activities not only give students a place to go but they teach valuable life lessons and create opportunities to learn and grow that can not be replaced.

Well over a thousand students participate in athletics and extra-curricular activities in our district. Please vote yes on Feb. 24.  

CASEY McLAUGHLIN

Sandpoint