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There are so many questions and concerns about the upcoming $55 million LPOSD school facilities levy that one almost doesn’t know where to begin.

First, why is the levy election being held on Aug. 30, in the midst of summer when voters have many other things on their minds? Few even know about the levy, and even fewer know that it will double their school taxes. In addition, are they aware that we taxpayers are on the hook for $30,000 just to run this standalone election? Why not have the vote nine weeks later when the general election is held on Nov. 8? Could it be that the LPOSD prefers not to have a large turnout when it comes time to vote on the levy?

The district states that the reason for the August vote is to allow construction of their many building, remodeling, and updating plans to begin in early 2017, and that holding the levy in November would delay the projects for another year. What is the urgency? Is there some kind of emergency? Are buildings so dilapidated that they are falling down? Has there been such poor maintenance that they all must be replaced, revamped, or remodeled within the next two years? The district’s justification is that consultants rated them as overwhelmingly poor or unsatisfactory with only three being rated as “fair.”

The school board chairman admitted that, yes, they have “kicked the can down the road for many years.” Is that responsible school management? I thought we had top-notch administrators. We know they are highly paid. Can’t we expect better from them?

Every response we hear from the district raises more questions. I say, “Vote NO on this irresponsible levy.

MAURINE PETTERUTO

Sandpoint