LPOSD thrilled by community's support

SANDPOINT  — Lake Pend Oreille School District board chairman Vickie Pfeifer said she would be happy with a win by a simple majority in Tuesday’s supplemental levy election.

But as precinct results were called in to LPOSD clerk Julie Menghini, Pfeifer and the board’s other members became more confident that the two-year, $10,950,000 levy would win by more than a slim margin.

The levy passed with 59.5 percent of voters casting votes in favor of the measure.

“It shows the community supports our schools,” Pfeifer said. She turned to give LPOSD Superintendent Dick Cvitanich a high five and a hug.

This year’s election attracted almost 1,000 more voters than did a supplemental levy held two years ago. Voters approved that measure by 64 percent.

Cvitanich said he is pleased with the outcome given a troubling economy.

“Were just very happy — we’re very happy for the kids of our community,” he said.

Without patrons’ passage of the levy, district officials said more than 100 staff positions, extracurricular programs including all after-school academic and athletic activities, plus upgrades to computer software and curriculum updates, would have been eliminated.

Even with the levy’s passage, LPOSD will still have to eliminate several upper quartile teachers, its elementary school counseling program and revise an extended-day kindergarten program.

Prior to the election, some patrons suggested that the district wait to see what happens with federal stimulus money before running the levy.

However, the perimeters for which districts will qualify, how much money will be given out or even when that will take place, have yet to be announced. All school districts in Idaho approve their budgets in late July.

The district has submitted the Sagle and Kootenai school projects to the Idaho State Department of Education with hopes of getting those projects funded with stimulus money.

Cvitanich said he would like nothing better than to not assess taxpayers for part of the plant facilities levy, if at all possible.

But that depends on how much money is being handed out, and what decision the board would make regarding the facilities levy, he said.  Cvitanich said $20,000 would not be much help.

Stimulus money for schools includes a provision for remodeling and renovation.

LPOSD vice chairman credited Cvitanich with his commitment to the levy, adding that he spent many hours speaking tat schools and community events.

“You did it - its all you,” Cameron said. “Dick is a great grass roots organizer. It’s his true calling.”

Final results:

Clark Fork 171 yes, 122 no, 58 percent yes; Hope; Northside 262 yes, 345 no, 43 percent yes; Kootenai; Farmin/Stidwell, 648 yes, 321 no, 66.9 percent no; SHS 587, 193 no, 75 percent yes; Washington, 564 yes, 217 no and 73 percent yes; Sagle, 496 yes, 552 no, 47 percent; and Southside, 225 yes, 269 no and 46 percent.