Please vote yes on March 8
My name is John Rorke and I have lived in Bonner County for 30 years — 27 of those years as a teacher and principal in the Bonner County/Lake Pend Oreille School District. My wife Marlene and I are voting for the levy and the following reasons are why.
When we first came to the Sandpoint area it was a dream comes true for us. Our dream was to live in a mountain environment that was both beautiful and adventurous, while maintaining a small town way of life; the same reasons so many of you came and stayed here. Our dream is the same now as it was 30 years ago.
During my years in our educational system I have been honored to meet and know many excellent teachers, secretaries, librarians, cooks, bus drivers, classroom aides, volunteers, administrators, and many others dedicated to providing a quality education to the youth of our community.
When I was a teacher, I always wondered why there weren’t enough supplies, textbooks, supplemental materials and yes, pay. Where is all the money from the slate? As a principal, I wondered why there weren’t enough supplies, textbooks and other teaching materials. Why wasn’t there enough money to fund a quality education to accommodate the various needs of our students? I quickly learned the reason for the money restraints and concerns. School districts are allocated money from the state. Idaho traditionally ranks in the lowest 10 percent for education funding nationwide. As a result, school districts throughout the state are forced to ask their patrons to honor our commitment and obligation to provide the best for our children through supplemental levies.
Over the years, the Lake Pend Oreille School District has re-established trust within the community. As a result, we patrons passed a levy for the first time in years. Since that time, we community members have passed, replacement supplemental levies and a plant facility levy.
When we look at academic achievement scores we see an increasing in academic skills. Extracurricular activities and sports are also successful, not just in winning and losing, but giving students an opportunity to stretch themselves as people. To stretch, a person needs skills and confidence; such skills and confidence are acquired through a school system dedicated to an old cliche, “what is best for the children?”
In our opinion what is best for the children can be continued with a yes vote for the replacement supplemental levy on March 8.
JOHN and MARLENE RORKE
Sandpoint