Why wouldn't you support our kids, schools?

In response to, “Alums voting against levy.” I am shocked, to say the least. This person votes against levies; the last two and the 75% reduced coming up in November. They bring the fiscal credibility of the board into question knowing the district needs the previously requested amounts, closer to $4.7 million. Lowering the amount and making cutbacks is listening to the public. Also, 44 of 47 seniors graduated last year, 94%. The state uses the number of freshmen the class started with to get to 66%. The turmoil our district has been through has forced many to leave and transfer, which lowers our graduation rate. To use any of this as a reason to not support a levy is just crazy.

What is not crazy is voting for a $1,130,060.00 levy this November. It is not everything the district needs but it is a step in the right direction. It does support extra- and co-curricular activities, two buses, child nutrition, curriculum, snow removal, 1/2 clerk, 1/2 custodian, and needed software/technology.

Since the ballot deadline, the district has earned a three-year grant that will pay for the SRO of the district. This reduces the levy by $80,550.00. However, even before that reduction, the levy was $23 per $100,000 of assessed value. If your property's tax-assessed value is $1.5 million or less, this levy costs less than $1 a day. The alum voting against would pay less than $0.54 a day. If you are unwilling to pay less than $1 a day to help educate, feed, transport, keep safe, provide sports and invest in local children you may see at the store, have parents that use your business, or could be your providers in the years to come and you wonder what is wrong with the world? You should look in the mirror.

ERNIE and HELEN SCHOEFFEL

Priest River