RATHDRUM — Officials of the Lakeland Joint School District will present findings from a recent four-day school week survey when the school board meets at 6 tonight at the district office, 15506 N. Washington St., Rathdrum.

Following direction from the board at the last meeting Feb. 5, Superintendent Lisa Arnold and staff received 1,845 answers from the Lakeland community about whether they would be in favor of a four-day school week.

Just more than 67% of the respondents (1,237) were in favor. Just under 33% (608) of the respondents were opposed.

"Based on these results, what direction would the board like to take?" Arnold asks in the board agenda item request, stating the district has received notification the state now has a minimum number of required student days "which we have never had before." Staff will bring updated potential daily schedules for the board's consideration to the March 5 meeting.

Also during the meeting, a recommendation to approve a draft resolution for a $7.52 million-per-year, two-year levy election will be brought before the board. The draft has been prepared by Brandon Helgeson, associate attorney with Hawley Troxell.

The draft resolution includes amounts of funding and to what the money will be going, such as:

• $2M for co-curricular and athletics activities — Maintain existing high school co-curricular activities including advisers, state dues and travel expenses for programs such as band, choir, Future Farmers of America, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, SkillsUSA and more. Funds also pay for coaches, officials, equipment, athletic trainers, uniforms, league and state travel and activities directors.

• $827,789 for safety and security — Safety personnel: school resource officers and armed district safety specialists; and program expenses: ammo, supplies and professional development, to name a few.

• $500,000 for transportation — Cost to the district after state support.

• $348,000 — This pays for students to participate in the Kootenai Technical Education Campus.

The draft resolution also specifies funding for teacher positions, the Advanced Learning Program at elementary schools, elementary specialists, library personnel, school nurses and the alternative middle school program.

According to this updated document, the estimated average annual cost to taxpayers on the proposed levy is a tax of $82.37 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value per year based on current market conditions.

If trustees approve the resolution, the levy will appear on the ballot during the May 20 election. 

Representatives of the Lakeland School District and school board have been invited to participate in a speaker panel from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday during the Rathdrum Area Chamber of Commerce's State of the Community Luncheon at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.

One hour of public comment has been allotted for public comment at the school board meeting.

Info: sd272.org