Community to Lakeland School Board: Rerun levy for less

RATHDRUM — A majority of those who spoke Wednesday night during a regular meeting of the Lakeland School Board implored trustees to rerun the Lakeland Joint School District's supplemental levy measure for a lower amount.

Shannon Rider spoke to the board as a Lakeland mom, educator and longtime resident of Spirit Lake. She has a fifth grader at Spirit Lake Elementary, a seventh grader at Timberlake Middle School and her husband is a coach and teacher at Timberlake High School.

"We are a Timberlake family through and through," she said. "I have poured my heart into the Lakeland Joint School District for 17 years. My husband has done the same throughout his life."

They have spent countless hours, nights and weekends to do what's best for the schools and community, she said, adding that her No. 1 responsibility is to ensure their kids are in a district where they can participate in sports, play musical instruments and have access to quality teachers and curriculum, all things made possible by levy dollars.

"Throughout my career, I have been a champion for students and for my school," Rider said. "In the situation we have found ourselves in, our children don't need a champion. They need a warrior. We need to fight for our children and for our community."

The sentiment was echoed throughout the nearly one-hour public comment session during which about 14 people spoke. The meeting was held in the Lakeland High School gym, where the words "Fight for Victory" are painted on a wall next to the Lakeland Hawk. The bleachers were nearly full, with many Lakeland students, parents and staff members wearing green and gold to show their Lakeland pride.

Hayden resident Chris Beaty, a longtime resident of the district, presented a chart showing how different precincts voted in the Nov. 5 election, when the two-year, $9.52 million-per-year supplemental levy measure failed by a slim margin.

A mere 122 votes would have brought the tally to a tie, a difference of .06%. Beaty questioned if .06% constitutes a clear majority and whether every voter understood that the levy pays for 25% of the district's budget.

The chart, using public Kootenai County Elections information, shows the most opposing votes came from precincts encompassing Athol and Spirit Lake elementary schools, Timberlake Middle School and Timberlake High School.

Beaty said those 10,485 opposing votes were votes in favor of defunding those schools.

"If we're going to go by what the data says, then there's four schools that are in a lot of trouble," he said. "The reality is I think we should have voted on something else — we should have voted on, 'What does the future look like with the levy?' and, 'What does the future look like without the levy?' That's not what we did."

Colleen Bevacqua is a Lakeland graduate and has been a teacher at the school 21 years.

"I want my boys to have the opportunity that I had at LHS," she said. "My heart is broken for the state of our school district."

She said these decisions have long-lasting consequences, on the district and on the community as a whole.

"This uncertainty is creating a very toxic environment for our staff and students," she said. "This is a time we need to pull together, not tear each position apart."

She said if budget cuts are inevitable, they need to be done in a way that classrooms aren't compromised, and the financial burden does not fall upon students and teachers.

"I propose we rerun the levy for a reduced amount," she said. "By adjusting our request, we can show our commitment to balancing fiscal responsibility with our mission to serve students. Rerunning the levy would provide the much-needed funds to avoid deeper, more painful cuts. This approach can also help rally community support and demonstrate our willingness to compromise while still prioritizing the needs of our students."

The next regular meeting of the school board is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 11.

    Shannon Rider steps away from the lectern Wednesday night after speaking at the Lakeland School Board meeting.
  

    Colleen Bevacqua, a Lakeland High graduate and teacher, proposes the supplemental levy be reran for a lower amount during the Lakeland School Board meeting Thursday.