Board vote damages trust
The school board met Sept. 6, originally seeking $390,126.
They approved an emergency levy of $327,932.
Maria LaBarbera and Gil Hagen voted against it, and from what I understand, it was specifically because it would "damage the trust of the community."
Those who voted for it are basing this on possible-actual increased enrollment. I've heard, but can't prove that some or all of those students may be migrant workers' children.
The money is going into a general fund to spend however they choose. They would not commit to how it would be spent.
The school board is given money for average daily attendance, which is significant.
On Jan. 16, 2007, the board was considering a levy for $1.5 million. Then they lowered it to $1.2 million. Later, they wanted to ask voters for $998,345.
Finally, the board tweaked it down to $885,845 for a support based on everyone's input and an attempt at building trust within our community. Sadly, people were misled into thinking that this was a genuine effort that would remain in effect over the next two years.
However, the trust they were trying to build begins to rapidly erode when you add $885,845 with the new emergency levy of $327,932. The total is $1.2 million. That is $9,932 more than what they had lowered it to initially. And $215,342 more than what they lowered it to before they finally "settled" on it in March 2007.
Interestingly enough, the ratio of children they are proposing this increase for (and said was needed) is relatively high when compared to the number of students enrolled at the time they passed a levy for $885,845.
What many of you may not know is that until recently I have always voted "yes." for the children's education. One year I was even asked and accepted to chair a YES! committee because I was the only one in attendance who wasn't directly affiliated with the school in one form or another other than being a parent.
I am still a parent of two school-aged children and want the very best for them and all students. I want to pay our teachers well — far better than what we're doing now.
If I could reverse what we pay actors and athletes with what we pay educators, I would do it without hesitation. However, until we put a stop to their lack of accountability, we will never have the trust and support we'd like and need for "our" children's future.
I propose we put an end to this lack of regard for those who are not financially able to sustain such needs. I propose we begin building trust by initially expecting the board to commit to how funds are spent and not deviate from it at all without taking it to the public.
Furthermore, I propose we take this to other counties within Idaho and then to our representatives to create a policy and funding practices which establishes and maintains equitable funding throughout the state.
Finally, to have our representatives and those across America require the federal government to invest properly in education for the greater futures of our children and America. The government has the ability and funds to truly invest in a worthwhile education, but instead takes our hard earned dollars and squanders it.
We can do all of this and more, but first we have to stop the total disregard they have for others who can least afford it. Things change in people's lives.
Not everyone is in a position to give as much as the next person. We have to care about them as well. We have to build genuine trust based on each other's very undeniably real life circumstances.
If you want to be a part of a brighter future for all of us, write back at ingridelenaslove@hotmail.com. If you know of someone who agrees with this and wants to be part of moving forward in life, then please forward this to them. Please use Bcc: (blind copies) so that people's e-mails remain as private as possible.
Ingrid Elena Pavia
Bonners Ferry