Levy would replace one leaving tax rolls

This upcoming levy replaces an expiring one supporting both academic and athletic extracurricular activities. Some say these items are not worth continued support. Rather, these are vital to both our local students and our economy. These activities define the heart and soul of a person which ultimately both employers and colleges use to differentiate between prospective candidates.

Athletics are beneficial because it teaches people life skills like fair play, responsibility, hard work, determination, teamwork, disappointment, and success. Some students belong to school groups that take them right out of themselves and into a bigger reality, teaching them about a world larger and more diverse than their own. Lessons learned in some extracurricular activities help people gain invaluable lessons on the world and what it feels like to make a difference. People learn how they want to participate in our society through extracurricular activities.

Moreover, people who are involved and engaged with extracurricular activities are less likely to smoke, drink or other addictive habits. Employers use them to determine a person’s interests, responsibility, and commitment levels. Colleges use a student’s extracurricular activities to help determine admission and college funding. These activities show that a student likes to and can make a contribution, maintain a long commitment, be responsible, and manage time and priorities well.

Some people feel that these are unnecessary expenses especially in our current economy. On the contrary, since employers and colleges both look to extracurricular activities to differentiate prospective employees and students, they are extremely invaluable — especially in this economy.

KARI SACCOMANNO

Sandpoint