The City’s Pulse Newsletter 
By Mary Souza, April 3, 2008
Education is one of the single most important investments of our lives. I’m a huge supporter of all kinds of education, at every age. So it is with a sad heart that I speak out against the proposed 2008 Coeur d’Alene School District Plant Facilities Levy.
The largest portion of the levy, $19 million of the planned $31.1 million dollar total, is for a new Lakes Middle School building. The district wants to tear down the old school and build a brand new school on the same land. To understand the problems with this idea, you have to look back at the history of this endeavor.
Let’s start way back in 1954, when the building was constructed. It was the high school back then. Some of the old timers who helped build the school remember it as a strong building with reinforced infrastructure and great masonry work. They recall the architect, Benny Rule said he designed it to last 200 years. Future expansion capabilities were built in and the whole south side of the building was one big room at first, with partitions added later so those rooms could be resized if needed.
Three of our four kids went through Lakes Middle School in the ’90s, where they did very well. They went on as honor students through Lake City High School, honor students through very good colleges and are now finding great success in their chosen fields. It’s not the building that teaches the child. Our children did well because they had wonderful teachers. (And their parents weren’t half bad either.) If I could vote for a levy to increase the salaries of the teachers, I’d jump at the chance. They are underpaid but dedicated individuals who make a difference in the lives of children every single day.
However, none of this levy money can be used for teachers or salaries. This levy is only about buildings, land and equipment. But, sadly, it’s also about the irresponsible spending of public money. It’s about poor management and lack of due diligence in the planning process.
I contacted the school district a few weeks ago to get some specific, detailed background information. Last Friday afternoon, right before they closed for Spring Break, the district finally sent me an email letter. It contained almost none of the information I had requested. But what it did contain was shocking.
By their own direct admission to me, on the phone and in person, the school district did not request nor receive any bids for remodeling Lakes Middle School. They did not have any written information upon which to base the remodel part of their decision. Read that again. There were no bids for the remodel. They asked a couple of contractors, who told them it would probably cost about the same, so they should build new. No numbers, no estimates, no documentation. It’s a $23.6 million dollar decision to build a new building.
The School District, along with the School Board and the Long Range Plan Review Committee, have failed to do their homework. Where was the research? Where were their questions? It reminds me of the old saying, “Not to know is bad. Not to wish to know is worse.” This overt lack of due diligence could not pass anyone’s common sense test.
But wait, there’s even more.
Don’t forget that back in 2002, we approved a $10 million dollar levy to…remodel Lakes Middle School! Well, the school was never remodeled. Some of the money went to finish off the Ramsey Elementary expansion and some went for various other things…you know how it is, a couple million here, a couple million there and suddenly, oh my, we don’t have enough left to fix Lakes Middle School.
We gave the district $10 million specifically to remodel Lakes, but they didn’t do what they promised. Then they proceeded to hire an architect and plan a brand new building instead. That was not the deal; that was not our agreement. They changed the equation. And now they want to tear down the 50 year old building that was built to last 200 years. Let’s not. Let’s fix up the aging beauty and set our sites and resources on better compensation for our teachers. Yes, that would be a wise investment. Buildings don’t teach, but great teachers are the investment of a lifetime.
I’m voting NO on this levy. I’m voting NO on wasteful, poorly planned use of public money. And I’m voting NO on treating taxpayers like we are dumb…we’re not. We had great teachers.
So many teachers have been told that programs are going to be cut, supplies will be cut, jobs will be cut, etc. if this levy does not pass. Are our teachers being bullied into being for, not only this levy, but all levy’s? The “educators” themselves need to educate themSELVES as to why so many are against, as many of them put it, the education system that once served them. There is a solution to the problem, but until the “good ole boyz (and girls)” are exposed, not much is gonna change. We must keep widdlin’ away peeling back a little at a time until nothing is hidden from the public. I am voting no!
Comment by concerned citizen — April 5, 2008 @ 7:02 am
I have told my children, I can make sure you get to bed on time, wake up in a timely fashion, dress proper, eat a good breakfast, personally drive you to school in a comfortable vehicle, take you to the best school, put you in the best class with the best teacher, make sure you sit at the front of the classroom, and sit right behind you all day—–and STILL it is up to YOU to get an education.
In other words – There is no corralation between funds expended on an education and actually getting an education.
HOWEVER, it IS what we learn from the people that teach us and lead us. Shouldn’t we be placing moral and ethical people in places of authority like schools, police depts., or how about this one, public office?
Comment by concerned citizen — April 6, 2008 @ 5:55 am
Concerned Citizen, you and I are on the same page with the message our kids have received. Our kids were always told that their future was up to them; that their choices would net them either a basic education or a great education, it was up to them. They learned how to choose the best teachers (I did it for them before high school–never underestimate the power of the “Mom” network–phone calls all around to ask which teachers teach well to which style of learning) and the kids worked hard to do their best. We tried to support them without rescuing them from failures. Allowing kids to fail (but not crash and burn) teaches them you respect their ability to recover, change, try again and, hopefully, succeed.
Anyway, I’ll get off my Mom rant and move on…I agree that we need new faces on the school board. Two seats are up for election with the levy on MAY 20.
Comment by mary — April 6, 2008 @ 9:04 am
I voted yes on the 2002 Levy to remodel Lakes Middle School but I am voting no May 20. The reason is simple, in 2002 people came out in record numbers and voted yes specifically because of the need to remodel Lakes. Lakes, at that time was number one on the list but the school district chose to use the money to build Altas Elementary, moderize and expand Project C.D.A. Alternative High/Middle School, moderize and expand Ramsey Elementary, and upgrade technology district wide. I do agree that the need was there for these other projects but the district basically used “Bait and Switch”. I do not think the 2002 levy would have passed if the district did not use Lakes Middle School as bait. Another reason I am voting no is because Hayden Elementary was closed after the opening of Atlas Elementary during a time of record growth in this area. It was extremely short sighted. Now they need another elementary school paid for by the up coming May 20 Levy. Those of you who have been around know the track record with the school district building new and closing existing schools. In 1990 the SPFL was used to build Fernan Elementary and Hayden Meadows. Harding Elementary was closed upon the opening of Fernan. The district claimed the building was to old. Somehow it was good enough to house Head Start. Harding has a Gym, Bryan Elementary does not but Bryan is a newer school. The school district also planned on closing Hayden Elementary at the same time but growth forced the district to keep it open until, as I previously mention, Atlas was opened. Those of you who go way back remember the closing of the Junior High on 7th Street. My memory is fuzzy but I believe it was after Canfield Middle School was built. I have to wonder if the school district will really use the money for Lakes this time around or is it another “Bait and Switch”. I can’t afford another $200 to $300 per year on my property tax. I feel I have already paid for Lakes in 2002. I am voting NO.
Why do we live in such a throw away society. It is sad that this district seems to think new is better. What about history. How wonderful it would be to walk thru the halls of the school you attended as a child with your grandchildren and great grandchildren and tell them stories and the fond memories your school holds. New is not always better.
Karen
Comment by iloveidaho — April 9, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
Hear! Hear! I too see the need to give Lakes Middle School attention. Maintenance must be part of the basic equation for all the school district’s buildings. They dropped the ball long ago (1). They misspent the 2002 levy amount (2). They don’t manage what they have; how much money could they raise by selling off some property, such as Hayden Elementary? (3).
Remember that along with the Levy election comes Trustee elections. We need leaders on the school board. I don’t think anyone has stepped up to challenge the status quo. The deadline to file is next Friday.
Comment by Dan — April 9, 2008 @ 3:29 pm