We should support our public schools and vote for the levies in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Lakeland and Kootenai School Districts. Because of historically inadequate public education funding in Idaho, levies have become needed for the maintenance of school districts’ functions. They are not supplemental, but essential.

Why is it that the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee opposes the levy in Coeur d’Alene? Chair Brent Regan and two other current precinct committee members were on the Coeur d’Alene School Board in 2013 and supported the levy that year. Why the change?

For some reason, the KCRCC has no problem publicly supporting homeschooling, and private or church schools, including advocating using public money for them through vouchers. They also support legislators who consistently vote against public school funding.

We should be doing all we can to support our public schools including charter schools, which are publicly funded. Our economy and liberties are dependent on an educated populace. Having been on school boards, I have seen some of the problems that school administrators, board members and teachers struggle with daily. We have many excellent teachers in our schools in Kootenai County. They deserve our respect and the tools they need to do the work we expect of them.

If people choose to educate their children outside the public schools, that is their right. But 95% of the children in Idaho attend public schools, and we, including the KCRCC, should do all we can to support them through significantly increased legislative funding and voting for levies forced on the local property taxpayers because of very inadequate state funding.

It is just common sense.

TOM HEARN

Kootenai County