RATHDRUM — Compound sentences can be tricky, but part of Shana Hostetler’s job is helping her fourth graders learn everything about them.

That was Friday afternoon’s lesson at Betty Kiefer Elementary School as she encouraged her students to read aloud and identify where to place punctuation.

Hostetler has taught in the Lakeland Joint School District for 25 years.

“We are doing great things in our schools,” she said, stepping out of her classroom for a moment. “Our children are learning. Our children are delighted to come to school. The light bulbs come on every day. »

The Lakeland School District will ask its voters to go to the polls Tuesday to vote on a two-year, $9.5 million supplemental levy measure, which, if approved, would replace the current expiring levy of the same amount at the end of the school year. .

This levy provides the district with 25 percent of its $40 million general budget, the lion’s share of which goes toward staff salaries and benefits.

Lakeland Superintendent Lisa Arnold said when schools are strong, the community is also strong. She went out into the community to engage in face-to-face conversations and share information about the swabs on social media.

Arnold said community members have asked that the complexities of swabs be simplified, a request she and her team have worked to fulfill.

“We recognize that in Idaho, parents have many choices, and I am 100 percent in favor of parental choice. I just want Lakeland to be at the top of the list of choices,” she said.

Lakeland voters approved the current levy in May 2023, along with a two-year levy of $1.146 million per year for school facilities. These were passed after both measures failed to reach the required voter threshold in the March 2023 election. The Coeur d’Alene school district suffered the same fate, but also managed to get enough voter approval the second time around.

Opponents have been relatively quiet before this election, Arnold said. She said she spoke with local political groups and leaders at their invitation and asked for neutrality rather than support.

To have the levy adopted, you need 50% of the votes plus one.

Arnold said Lakeland School Board administrators have not made any public statements about what would happen if the levy fails.

“I would not recommend to the board to restart this project,” she said.

Lakeland operates small neighborhood schools that require more staff than what is paid for by the state. Levy funds make that possible, Arnold said.

“It will really be up to the board to make the decisions on how to make these reductions,” she said.

The Lakeland School District has three administrators, up from five before Arnold’s tenure as superintendent. It has 700 permanent employees and around 70 visiting professors. People make up 87% of the budget, the remaining 13% is discretionary: water, electricity, utilities, etc.

Lakeland averages about 23 students per class. Staff reductions would mean more children and fewer teachers in each classroom.

“It will absolutely happen,” Arnold said.

Arnold said that with a large portion of the budget being human resources and with drawdowns accounting for 25% of that budget, staff reductions would be inevitable.

Sports and extracurricular activities, such as music and art, would also be negatively affected if the levy was not adopted.

The one message Arnold wants to convey, especially to the many newcomers to Idaho and the Lakeland school district who may not clearly understand why Idaho does not fully fund its public schools, is that People should reach out when they have questions.

“My goal for everyone in this district is to have enough accurate information to be able to make an informed decision for their families,” she said. “If at the end of the day, they don’t feel like they can say ‘yes,’ as long as they do it from a place of understanding and facts, then I can live with that.

Contact Arnold at 208-687-0431 ext. 1111 or visit sd272.org for more details.

SIDE BAR

Voters who live in the Coeur d’Alene School District will also be asked to consider renewing the district’s current two-year, $25 million per year levy, which expires June 30, 2025. This community-supported levy covers 25% of the cost. maintain non-publicly funded educational programs and services. Info: cdaschools.org

The Post Falls School District will not hold a levy election Tuesday. It is expected to hold elections on the next available election date, May 2025.

Arnold