School board trustees of District 271 in Coeur d’Alene have asked for public comments with regard to their upcoming Maintenance and Operations $32 million levy and their proposed capital bond of $35.5 million. I am not big on online surveys, but I want to express my opinion, both as a conservative citizen and as a former District 271 board member.

I want to highly recommend that the board go forward with the proposals at the amounts they have proposed, and I want to highly recommend that taxpayers of the district go vote for both proposals this March. There are five main reasons why I make these recommendations:

1. The real need for these projects is clear and present, and the board of trustees was very reasonable in what they have proposed. Without taking the time or the space to go line by line, each of the main projects are not only needed, but badly needed. The number of students attending District 271 schools has increased by several hundred in the last 3-4 years. When a school district has needs caused by growth, it’s a good thing. The long-range planning committee submitted capital projects that would cost almost $58 million, if we include the Hayden center renovation and new construction. I spoke with several trustees, and they all expressed a desire to be “reasonable” and prudent, and only propose at this time what were the absolutely necessary projects. My opinion is that they did their due diligence, and have submitted projects that address the main concerns of the students of the district, and their other main patron, the taxpayers.

2. One of the highest priorities several of these projects fix or correct is safety and security concerns. Building more classrooms at the two high schools addresses not only the danger of holding classes in portable buildings but also the overcrowding that student growth has caused. Other issues such as the floor of the weight room of Lake City, which could eventually collapse causing any number of injuries or possible deaths; the parking lot safety concerns at Fernan STEM Academy; and the reconfiguration of the main entrance at Lakes Magnet Middle School are examples of renovations that must not be delayed, for reasons of security and safety.

3. The need for a new elementary school in the northwest portion of the district is obvious. Students, teachers and staff are all experiencing the inefficiencies and hindrance of teaching and learning caused by overcrowding. No one can predict the future, but assuming the local, state, and national economies continue to grow, the new school will be an appreciating asset that far exceeds its price of $11.5 million in the future.

4. Some of the projects correct mistakes or make renovations that will provide a much more positive reality for students, including simple things like replacing carpet on the gym floor at Hayden Meadows. (Who carpets a gymnasium?)

5. My fifth and final reason is simply that the timing is right for these two separate but vital proposals. The M&O levy addresses the need for new buses or improvements to the bus fleet, including looking at the cost of possible new buses with safety belts; and other ongoing and increasing costs such as paying staff and education programs. One has to realize that the capital bond proposal and the M&O levy can be accomplished with no increase in our effective tax rate, which is already the second lowest rate of any district in the state, at $2.38 per $1,000 taxed! The timing is perfect because of the increase in the value of the assets of the district, and with bond rates and interest rates where they are, the idea of all of these improvements being accomplished with ZERO increase in taxes appeals to me, and should appeal to all taxpayers.

I will not even tread into the swamp that low overall education funding in the state of Idaho reflects in terms of our spending per student vs. all other 49 states (Google it —we rank either 49th out of 50, or dead last, depending on what you decide to click on). After all, a conservative friend once told me that “You can’t solve all problems just by throwing money at them.” That might be true, but whether or not the legislature meets the burden of our state constitution requiring “free public education” for every child is a sore subject for another day.

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Jim Hightower is a former Coeur d’Alene School Board member and a local business owner.