Students urge voters to renew operations levy

Extra-curricular activities are a big part of Bonners Ferry High School junior Casey Watt’s life.

That’s why, as a basketball and volleyball player, Casey en-courages Boundary County voters to re- new a maintenance and operations tax levy on Tuesday, March 24.

Without the voters’ approval, Boundary County School District will lose $318,000 for extra-curricular activities, which includes 32 programs at the high school and about 20 at Boundary County Middle School.

“If they were gone, I think we would move,” Casey said.

School officials are asking voters to renew the levy, which would generate $856,000 through payment of property taxes. In addition to extra-curricular activities, the money will be used for personnel, text books, supplies, materials and testing.

A homeowner with property valued at $100,000 with a $50,000 homeowner’s exemption would be required to pay $47 annually during each of the levy’s two years. The current two-year levy, which generated $20,000 more a year, required the same homeowner to pay $48 annually, will go away. The emergency levy passed in fall 2007 due to increased enrollment also has expired.

Voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 24 at Naples, Valley View, Mt. Hall and Evergreen elementary schools, Boundary County Middle School and Bonners Ferry High School.

Casey hopes for good news on election day.

The daughter of Shawn and Darek Watt, she is also a member of Natural Helpers, National Honor Society and Foreign Language Society and will compete in the 2009 Bonners Ferry Jr. Miss pageant on April 18.

When Casey’s not studying to maintain straight A’s, she goes to her twin brother’s games. Colton Watt plays football and basketball and runs track.

Casey credits her success in sports and the classroom to finding a balance.

“Being involved helps you stay away from the other crap,” Casey said.

Senior Aaron Hoisington has maintained a 3.9 grade-point average while playing basketball, soccer and baseball.

“I care about my grades, but this definitely has incentives,” Aaron said. “Sports and extra activities build character and leadership.”

Junior Emily Pauls says she needs sports. Soccer, basketball and track keep her busy.

“I’ve been in them my entire life. I like the bus trips and I’ve made a lot of friendships,” Emily said.

She has a 3.6 grade-point average, belongs to Foreign Language Society and will compete in Jr. Miss.

Avid Badger fan Ron Smith, who is also a Boundary County Commissioner, noted the extra-curricular money helps bring tournaments to town, which in turn, helps the local economy.

“I truly believe we have some kids going to high school because of extra curricular activities,” Smith said. “When they do that, they are bumping right into an education. If these activities go away, we will lose those kids. Parents will take them some iplace else to participate in these activities.”

“The school district gets money from the state based on daily population and will cut back,” he continued.