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Lake Pend Oreille School District wants us to pass a huge levy that would pay for new buildings, renovations, add-ons, and many other projects with the rationale that the buildings should match the academic success level of students. And because the condition of those buildings was rated as poor or unsatisfactory by a consultant firm last summer, it’s time for redoing them, simultaneously and all in the next two years. Does this make sense?

Here are some questions:

• How did it escape the administration that all buildings were in such reportedly poor condition for such a long time?

• If they did notice, why wasn’t maintenance done on a regular basis. There is a maintenance budget, after all.

• What are some of these shortcomings that necessitate a $55 million rebuilding and remodeling expenditure? Replacing HVAC systems, replacing single-pane windows, installing dividers between urinals, replacing bells, clocks, and intercom systems, things like that.

• LPOSD says that if the cost of a remodel is projected to exceed 80 percent of the value of the building, it qualifies for rebuilding. However, they cannot explain how they arrived at the 80 percent figure for the three buildings slated for rebuild because they never acquired bids.

• Also, one has to wonder how, in spite of the reportedly bad building conditions, students managed to get what the district calls a “world class education?” But now that’s not possible anymore unless we spend $55 million and start construction in early 2017?

Many questions, not enough answers. Vote no on this levy.

BOB BROWNING

Sandpoint