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We have the privilege of living in a caring, supportive and friendly community. We are invested in our community and try to give back when and where we have an opportunity. We want to be clear about our support for the supplemental levy coming up on March 14. A few points about this levy are worth repeating.

1. The state of Idaho funds our public school system at a level that is among the lowest in the nation. Importantly, state funding only supplies 66 percent of the necessary funding.

2. The majority of Idaho school systems are therefore required to go through this supplemental levy asking for tax dollars from citizens to support this missing 30 percent of the school budget (federal government, grants, etc. make up the other 4 percent).

3. The recently proposed facilities levy failed and the supplemental levy is in no way related, or an attempt at fixing the facilities problem.

4. Without the supplemental levy, our children will not have access to:

a. One-third of all teachers and staff

b. Reasonable class size

c. Secondary elective classes

d. School and college counseling

e. School athletics

f. Extracurricular activities

g. Technology (access to computers and internet)

Please support the supplemental levy. Our daughters had the privilege of getting an education in Sandpoint. Notably, they played softball, ran cross-country, participated in Model United Nations, Health Occupations of America and other activities that gave them character and identity. We want to live in a community that supports these opportunities, and we hope you do too.

RON and NANCI JENKINS Sandpoint