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I applaud Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s attention to education, including his proposal for a chief education officer to effect change in post secondary education to ensure the need for a better skilled workforce in Idaho.

However, his proposal for a $200,000 salary and a one-time $500,000 consulting fee for that position is so far out-of-bounds as to be ludicrous. Any consulting should be within the salary for that position. If I am wrong on that, let it be explained. I know at least three people in Sandpoint who have strong backgrounds in the problem the governor wants to address. Each of them would do an outstanding job and probably for a bit less than the proposed salary that typically over pays elite administrators at the top over hardworking educators working in the trenches. Let’s not forget, the trenches is where the war is won.

LAWRENCE BLAKEY

Sandpoint