The Blaine County School District relied upon the community to help develop its new strategic plan, and now it is asking the community to help pay to implement it.
The district's board of trustees is expected to approve a plant facilities levy election at its Sept. 8 meeting. If approved, a vote on the levy is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 29.
The district is asking for a property tax assessment for the next 10 years to fund building and site improvements, new technology for its classrooms and new safety and security systems. The amount of money the district wants has not yet been determined. District Business Manager Mike Chatterton said the amount will not exceed the $62 million raised by an existing plant facilities levy that expires next year and by a bond issued in 1993 that is almost paid off.
As such, Chatterton explained, property owners will be asked to continue paying the same or less than the amount of money they're already paying.
The items the levy would fund are all components of the district's strategic plan, a blueprint for development through 2015.
Former District Superintendent Jim Lewis has described the plan as "visionary" and as the district's "Bible."
At the Aug. 11 school board meeting, David Holmes, director of the Lee Pesky Learning Center in Hailey, described plan development as "one of the most impressive processes I've seen of this type." Holmes said he was both impressed with the community involvement and that the plan is being implemented.
"Frequently, strategic plans by my experience end up on a shelf," he said.
The strategic plan was completed last summer after about a year of development. Since that time, committees comprised of district staff, parents and community members have been putting together strategies and action plans to turn plan goals into reality.
The plan has 10 goals. Three goals—those that address new technology, providing a secure school environment and provide facilities for optimal learning—are the ones the district says it needs new funds to implement.
Selling points
The school district issued a news release earlier this month with a list of four selling points for the proposed levy.
One: "Funding these three areas of the Strategic Plan under a plant facilities levy allows the district to continue using its general operating budget solely for programs and curriculum, rather than pitting the two needs against each other."
Two: "A plant facilities levy allows the district to collect money annually and save for anticipated future needs such as upgrading current facilities, new technology or a new school."
Three: "If future needs are not funded through a plant facility levy like this, the alternative for funding infrastructure improvements and facilities is to pass a bond referendum ... with its associated interest costs."
Four: "The proposed plant facilities levy will not increase taxes for any Blaine County residents."
Opposition
The levy would need 55 percent voter approval for passage.
Elizabeth Schwerdtle, a longtime follower and critic of district policies, wrote in an e-mail to the Idaho Mountain Express that she's concerned about an increase in construction spending over the past several years.
"I decided to investigate where the money was being spent," Schwerdtle wrote. "I found that in 2001 our district's spending priorities changed radically, from spending on instruction, to spending on construction and land purchases.
"In fact, capital and debt spending increased eight-fold during this period, while spending on the core business of our schools—instruction—grew only a tiny fraction of that.
"Needless to say, this has spawned a very significant district-funded construction industry that has, many believe, taken over our district's priorities for its own enrichment and to the detriment of the focus on student learning.
"This is what the levy is about—continuing and even ramping up the flow of flow of funds to this industry."
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Strategic Plan goals
Each student demonstrates Blaine County School District 21st century student performance indicators to ensure preparedness for college, career and citizenship.
Every student receives a rigorous curriculum that prepares him or her for college and is supported by challenging, inspiring and relevant instruction.
Students are prepared for a multicultural and multilingual world.
The district works as a community to develop and support the whole child.
Students demonstrate healthy social and emotional behaviors with the support of parents and the community.
The district actively recruits, retains and develops highly competent, caring and student-focused staff.
The district puts into practice state-of-the-art technology that provides students and staff with full working and learning capability.
Schools are secure environments that adapt to an ever-changing world.
Facilities, grounds and classrooms promote sustainability and provide for optimal learning.
To enrich children's educational experience, the district uses the resources of the community.
Concrete contractor Robert Kolman smooths out a platform for mainframe computer cooling units at the new location for the Blaine County School District’s Technology Center on Second Avenue in Hailey. Keeping abreast of new technology is a key component of the district’s new strategic plan. Photo by Willy Cook
