WBCSD school board approves re-running replacement levy, graduation requirements

▶️ Listen to this article now.

PRIEST RIVER — The West Bonner County School Board voted unanimously March 17 to re-run the district’s $3.4 million replacement levy that failed earlier this month.

At the meeting, several residents, as well as trustees, spoke in favor of re-running the levy. Abby Eldore, a Priest Lake Elementary student, was one of the first to speak.

“If our school levy fails again, so many things could be taken away. Voting no could do so much harm to this community,” she said. “If the next levy fails, many amazing teachers will be gone. If the levy fails, kids will be deprived of the opportunity to do school. If the levy fails, some schools might close.”

Whitney Hutchins, an organizer for a petition to re-run the levy which garnered 437 signatures as of the meeting, said failing the levy a second time would negatively impact local business and create undue learning barriers to children and teachers.

“I can’t imagine a 6-year-old being asked to ride the bus for two hours, and then be expected to sit and learn. Are you kidding me?” Hutchins said. “Our kids deserve an education, and they have teachers who want to give that to them.”

Hutchins also pointed to something trustees had noted in previous meetings — the district’s budget cuts would be likely to affect the local economy if students and teachers are lost as a result.

Trustee Margaret Hall said that although she doesn’t have children in the school district, she sits on the board because she believes strong schools also benefit the entire community.

“If you look at the research, a good educational system is a strength for the community,” she said. “I am investing in the future, my time, my money, my resources. What do we want this community to look like in 10 or 20 years?”

Should the district fail to re-run the levy, around 20 teachers and 16 certified staff would lose their job, said Superintendent Paul Anselmo. It would also include the closure of Priest Lake Elementary and Idaho Hill Elementary.

The schools would also stop offering extracurriculars and non-essential classes, and lock school doors after students left in the afternoon.

“Class offerings would be reduced down to what is required to earn a diploma,” he said.

Trustee Troy Reinbold of Spirit Lake said that if the levy failed again and the district was re-absorbed by the Lake Pend Oreille School District, locals would have less say over student curriculum and pay higher taxes, as LPOSD has a higher levy rate.

Bryan Barton, who has two daughters in the school district, said he had some concerns about mask requirements, which are not currently in effect for students but have been in some cases while the county was in the orange and red zones.

“If they want to wear a mask, let them wear a mask. If they don’t, they don’t. There’s nothing that should be forced upon them,” he said.

Another resident spoke against the levy, saying voters needed lower taxes and that because schools received CARES Act funding this year and are slated to receive more COVID funds, they should use that as funding

Jennifer Anselmo, board clerk and WBCSD business manager, said that although the district is receiving COVID-19 relief money, it cannot replace the district’s general funds because it is limited to expenses directly related to the pandemic — expenses like laptops, the district’s Google Classroom teacher or disinfectants, for instance.

“They have 15 allowable uses,” she said. “It doesn’t replace general fund dollars. It’s to do all the additional things we need during this time.”

The district also has expenses such as special education and transportation, which are only partially funded by the state. Moreover, Anselmo said, COVID relief funds are one-time installments, and not something the district can build a budget off of.

Dana Douglas, a Priest River native and mother of two former WBCSD students, said funding the schools is critical.

“I think a lot of people are really confused, they think this is politics,” she said. “This doesn’t have anything to do with Boise. They don’t care if we pass our levy. Washington, D.C., doesn’t care if we pass our levy. It’s our kids. This is our community.”

Douglas noted programs like free and reduced meals for students from low-income families, and programs like band that can help students find a place they feel they belong.

“Maybe someone gets down at their eye level and says, “Good job, I’m proud of you.” That’s what matters. Our children matter. You guys need to wake up. I am so tired of coming in here every two to four years and reminding you,” she said.

Also at the meeting, trustees approved the first reading of policy 2700 for updated graduation requirements.

The graduation requirements, first introduced in December of last year, were updated to allow for more flexibility for students entering the high school their junior or senior year.

Under the updated curriculum, the early U.S. history class, which would have been required as a graduation requirement that students take their sophomore year, is being designated as an elective.

That means students who start attending the school their junior or senior year have an easier time meeting graduation requirements, said Paul Lamb, Priest River Lamanna High School principal.

Students will still have to learn early U.S. history in another class they’re required to take, he said, and have the chance to delve deeper into the subject in an elective class should they choose to do so.

Lastly, trustees discussed the updated reopening plan in response to Panhandle Health moving the district to the yellow, or minimal risk, category.

Currently, Paul Anselmo said, masks are required for teachers but not students. As the required Idaho Standards Achievement Test window nears, Anselmo suggested the board consider a mask requirement while during the testing window.

Although masks are controversial, Anselmo said he worried about what might happen if a large number of students are required to quarantine during testing. The state has not offered any leniency in regards to the testing deadlines.

If someone in a school tests positive for COVID-19, students exposed to that person are required to quarantine unless both parties were wearing a mask, Anselmo said.

“From our administrative side, ‘it’s strongly recommended’ means it’s not happening,” he said. “[If] we’re quarantining 30 kids in one swipe, that’ll throw that whole thing out of whack.”

Hall said she would prefer to keep masks required until May, however, after a brief discussion, the board decided to postpone any potential action.

“If the numbers start changing, we really need to have a special meeting to look at it quickly,” Hall said. “We can’t afford to have kids not take the ISAT.”