To those people of SD 271 who were upset over the results of the election last Tuesday, don’t be. Here is what I mean.

The outgoing board now consists of five conservatives. They did get the IB and PYP programs out of our schools and are trying to trim the budget, but don’t fret. Christa Hazel has said all along she is a conservative Republican, and so will preserve a conservative majority on the board.

Ms. Hazel calls herself a “common sense conservative” and I know that she really means it or she wouldn’t say it, even though her victory party was so well attended by the teachers union leadership. She will continue doing what fiscal conservatives do, cut the budget and getting the teachers union to amend their contract to save the district several million dollars. This means that the property owners in Coeur d’Alene will not have their taxes increased by another bond or supplemental levy.

She also told the school board when she was interviewed for the appointed position, held now by Mr. Regan, that she would never let IB and PYP back into our schools. At the candidate forum at the Grange, Mr. Tom Hearn and Mr. Dave Eubanks also said that they would not support IB and PYP. So this means there will be five votes against the IB and PYP programs.

I just know all three of these elected members will show integrity and keep their word. They surely do not want to be like the progressives in Washington, D.C., and say anything to get elected. Time will tell.

DOUG SHEVALIER

Coeur d’Alene