The facts on LPOSD replacement levy

Kathy Rose recently submitted a letter to the editor of the Sandpoint Daily Bee. As is her right, she felt she needed to explain what this new levy would fund.

First, she made a point the new levy amount would increase by 7.8 percent.

Fact: A home with an assessed value of $250,000 with a homeowner’s exemption will see an increase of only .50 cents a month in 2018 and 2019 This is an increase of 2 percent.

When she discussed the Facilities Department’s request, she stated this department requested $1.12 million.

Later in her discussion she used a $2.17 million figure. If one infers her comments correctly, she feels our aging buildings’ issues are not part of the Facilities Department’s proactive plan but that the money requested would be used only for technology.

Fact: Our facilities department does exemplary work keeping our schools running. This type of work is their main focus and always will be. The educational use of technology is essential for our students to be competitive in this world.

Rose suggests we don’t need a new curriculum for ELA.

Fact: Our teachers wrote the curriculum we are currently using; teachers writing this type of curriculum is highly unusual. This work was done to fill a void until publishers could catch up with the need for new more rigorous work. Although we are proud of what we accomplished, we know we need a research-based curriculum to help our students excel. Due to constant collaboration and our incredible teaching staff, yes, our students are thriving. However, an adoption of curriculum is imperative to keep us current and relevant. Much of this district’s curriculum is outdated.

Fact: Please go to any meeting being presented about this levy to learn the truths. You can request a meeting. Please go to our website: www.lposd.org to do your own fact checking. You will find a comprehensive PowerPoint, and an informative poster.

More importantly, talk to friends who work for the Lake Pend Oreille School District: teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, mechanics, kitchen staff, librarians, administrators, counselors, office coordinators, custodians, coaches, maintenance workers, grounds keepers, electricians, technology experts, nurses, speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, physical therapists, district office staff, (please forgive me if I left someone out)… Ask them to share information with you. You can trust them. You trust them with our kids everyday.

Perky Smith-Hagadone is principal at Northside Elementary.