RATHDRUM, Idaho — The Lakeland School District has been considering how to best address the November levy failure for months and discussion is brewing over a potential financial emergency.
A new and reduced levy hopes to swerve the district away from that.
“For students, the levy supports not only sports but academics,” said Kayla Dunn, a Rathdrum resident. “I know that the kids are trying being affected by it.”
Dunn’s husband is a teacher in the Lakeland School District. The majority of the funds from the May levy would go towards salaries for teachers and curricular activities.
For Dunn, it is the chance of those being cut that is the most frightening.
“They learn a lot through those electives and I’m afraid that they would be to the wayside,” she said.
Others raised concerns over taxes being too high and fiscal responsibility of the school district. This has left the school board in a predicament, with one board member calling this the only logical option for the district.
Board member Bob Jones, who voted in favor of the new levy proposal, stated in an open letter that the reduced amount asked of tax payers could cause for operational difficulties. However, he is ready to work with those in charge to meet the challenge.
“I cannot, and I will not, be party to the wholesale dismantling and destruction of a great school district that so many have worked so hard over so many years to put into place,” said Jones.
If the levy passes, it would require $85,000 in cuts for each high school, a slight budget deficit but not as large as if there was no levy at all.
The school district will hold a town hall meeting to answer community questions throughout the rest of the month.
You can find more information on the levy here.
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