Cheaper option should have been considered

The Lake Pend Oreille School Board and superintendent met weeks ago to consider alternatives for replacing their expiring levy so that the district can continue to operate.

It was reported that they had formulated three alternatives: option one to expand its scope and increase its coverage of activities and salaries beyond current levels; option two to continue to spend at current levels; or option three to cut back somewhat, tighten their belt, and find places and ways to save.

They, of course, knew that expansion was not in the cards — taxpayers would never approve of that. So alternative one was off the table. Although they never claimed that alternative three was impossible to live with, they decided that we taxpayers can continue to fund at the current levels and belt-tightening was for others and was not necessary for them. Hence, alternative two is what we have to vote on.  

Apparently what is necessary in this recession for every government entity, every struggling business enterprise, and all of our households — to ask what is necessary and what is desirable and cut out the desirable – is not a suitable approach for the LPOSD. It is “business as usual and leave the pain of cutbacks to others.” 

I will overlook their irresponsibility and greed and vote for this levy because I can’t imagine what our fine community would do to recover from its defeat. However, without an emergence of indisputable empathy by the LPOSD superintendent and board, this will likely be the last time I will.

STAN HATCH

Sandpoint