Do your research, then get out and vote

I’m addressing the voting population of the West Bonner County School District. The levy vote is coming up soon again. The turnout in the last one was very poor. The weather was bad; people didn’t seem to be interested enough to vote. Considering the outcome, it points to the fact that the second try on May 21 is huge. So whether you’re yay or nay, please get out and vote.

Now to address the yay or nay. I’m suspecting much of the nay vote comes from my fellow retirees. Why would you do that to our future generations? It doesn’t make sense. Didn’t we vote in favor when our children were in school? So why vote against our grandchildren and greats? I, personally, have never voted against a levy since we have our own district again. State funding simply isn’t enough to cover needs. It’s not much different than most households having to have two incomes to survive. Our tax burden with the new levy is actually less than what our past levy is.

Letters to the editor are just personal opinions such as I’m putting together here. That doesn’t make them gospel. Do your own research. Go out and ask for the actual facts. Just because someone has a personal opinion that is negative doesn’t make it right. Check that opinion out and determine if it’s accurate or not, Base your vote on fact, not opinion. Recently there have been some letters based on fact. I applaud those people that have taken the time to gather facts and shared them with us. Be wary of letters that are only opinion based.

Please vote on May 21 and join me and many others who will vote yes. Our children need the best education that our district can provide. And, to accomplish that, they need our yes vote.

As an afterthought I want to mention that this funding problem isn’t only in our district. It’s statewide. Other semi-local districts in our area also had levies. Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, and Boundary County all had levies and passed them.

ERNIE SCHOEFFEL

Priest River