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OUR OPINION
The West Bonner County School District, following one of the most contentious years in the district’s fairly short history, is running a levy election that’s passage is critical to the district continuing to operate with schools and staff throughout West Bonner county.
A no vote will almost certainly cause the closure of Idaho Hill and Priest Lake Elementary schools. The exodus of staff and students that’s happened for the last few years will likely continue.
Voters turned down the district’s levy last year and the district has been using federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Funds (ESSER) but those will be exhausted by next year.
While it is a shame the district’s board of trustees isn’t fully supportive of the levy, board chair Margaret Hall did reach out to a levy critic, Kathy Nash, to serve as the board’s treasurer. Nash voted against the board putting up a levy, saying the numbers being presented weren’t reliable.
An exhaustive forensic audit failed to turn up criminal or other financial wrongdoing, although it did find things that could be improved. The fact that the school board approved and paid for the audit and sought out its findings to correct what needs correcting, coupled with Hall’s tie breaking vote to have Nash be treasurer, shows good faith.
The board, Nash included, want the best for West Bonner County School District students. Another huge drop in funding that a levy failure will bring about won’t make things better for the district’s students.
Public education is important. West Bonner County Schools aren’t perfect but what school district is?
Attracting quality staff will just get harder without a levy.
Please vote yes to support the West Bonner County School District levy Tuesday, May 21.
