School board members in Coeur d’Alene want the community’s opinion as they consider asking voters to approve two financial measures — a supplemental maintenance and operations levy and a bond — on a March ballot.

This month, the school board will host two “Community Conversation” events. The format is designed to encourage all citizens to attend and speak with school board members, discuss the school district’s various needs and ask questions before the school board makes any decisions.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16

Coeur d’Alene High School, 5530 N. Fourth St.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30

Lake City High School, 6101 Ramsey Road

The time and format will be the same for each “Conversation”:

5-5:30 p.m.: Take a school tour to learn about facility needs

5:30-5:45 p.m.: Overview. Levy & Bond presentation

5:45-6:45 p.m.: Roundtable. Join a small group to talk with school board members

6:45-7:30 p.m.: Gather up. Summarize info and continue school board discussions

Those who cannot attend are invited to email their thoughts for the school board to [email protected]

Information regarding options to address school facilities needs, without increasing the district’s total property tax levy rate, can be found on the main page of the district’s website at www.cdaschools.org.

Trustees have begun discussing a renewal of the existing $15 million a year supplemental maintenance and operations levy, including an additional $1 million to purchase school buses, English Language Arts Curriculum adoption and resources to support class size reductions.

The district’s Long Range Planning Committee made recommendations to the school board regarding building a new elementary school to relieve overcrowding in the northwest area of the district. The LRP Committee recommended a Phase 1 plan to renovate Coeur d’Alene High School, Lake City High School and Lakes Magnet Middle School. A Phase 2 recommendation maps out the need for a second elementary school and modernizations to Dalton Elementary, the Hayden Lake site, and further building upgrades across the district.

Trustees will need to come to a decision by January on the dollar amounts of the levy and bond if they plan to move forward with a request for a public vote in March.