LPOSD: Levy vital to district programs

SANDPOINT — Maintaining existing Lake Pend Oreille School District programs cannot be done without levying property owners, say officials.

To that end, trustees are expected to approve a resolution on Tuesday to put a two-year, $10,950,000 replacement levy before voters on Feb. 24.

The levy would be split differently than it has been in years past. If voters OK the levy, $4.6 million would be assessed the first year and $6.350,000 the second year.

The option came about following a suggestion by board chair Vickie Pfeifer amidst concerns that people would vote against the proposed levy because of the poor economy and a plant facilities levy that will be on the books when the new supplemental levy would kick in beginning July 1.

The plant facilities levy will be off the books when the second year of the proposed supplemental levy kicks in on July 1, 2010.

The supplemental or replacement levy would pay for $9,008,714 million or 21 percent of staff funding and student classroom improvement funding worth $1,941,286.

That funding would provide support for rural schools, maintain educationally sound class size, an extended day kindergarten and the upper quartile program, along with student and extracurricular coaching staff and information technology support staff, according to the resolution.

The student classroom funding is broken into four areas, which includes curriculum, student and extracurricular activities, technology and maintenance.

In regard to student and extra curricular activities, funds would cover athletics, academic competitions, drama, music, yearbook, newspaper, cheer/dance, transportation and the operating budget.

Trustees will vote on a resolution calling for the election at 6 p.m. today at Farmin Stidwell.

Polls will be open on Feb. 24 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Hope, Kootenai, Northside, Sagle, Farmin Stidwell, Washington and Southside elementary schools, along with Sandpoint and Clark Fork Jr./Sr. high schools.