I learned today that the City of Post Falls owns approximately 600 acres of land on the prairie. They paid $10,000,000 for it. Let’s do some math.

How we spend our education dollars is important. It’s vital. It should not be overlooked. Spending money on land should not be the priority. Spending money on educating students, paying teacher salaries, or providing much-needed workforce training is the priority. Our educators and elected officials are not in the real estate business.

For the “Education Corridor” the City of Coeur d’Alene and North Idaho College will be paying $10,000,000 for 17 acres. That’s $588,235 per acre. The question I’m asking is whether that is the best use for those education dollars?

Now consider the 600 acres owned by Post Falls. That was purchased for $10,000,000 and the math works out to $16,666 an acre.

So when I speak of “alternatives on the prairie,” I’m talking of a cost reduction to the taxpayer of $571,569 per acre. Not only a cost savings to the taxpayer, but how many teachers could we hire with the money we save? How many classrooms could be built? How many students would benefit from money being spent on facilities and to pay for their education, versus buying prime real estate?

I’m not even talking about the fact that access for students, faculty and staff would be far easier on the prairie, and how such a location would not negatively impact downtown Coeur d’Alene or Northwest Boulevard. I’m simply discussing a wise way to spend education dollars.

To my knowledge, NIC is not interested nor have they approached Post Falls about partnering in the prairie land, land already purchased and owned by the taxpayer.

Incidentally, NIC had an option to buy land on the prairie. For two years they spent $100,000 on that option. I hear that they will no longer be pursuing that option. That’s $200,000 down the drain. To put it another way, that could have been one-years free tuition for 80 students.

Again, this is not about education, it’s about public involvement. If the public were involved, then these questions would be raised and addressed. Ask yourself why that hasn’t happened? Then ask yourself why those responsible to the taxpayer have not made these considerations? Ask yourself why those who deride my asking questions and who personally attack me are afraid to address the issue of how we spend our education dollars? What is their motivation to hide the details from the public?