The current levy request is the most important facilities upkeep measure requested by the school district since 1986 – fully a generation ago. The proposed levy is the culmination of a process that included an exhaustive survey of all district schools by a professional consulting firm, the review and formulation of long-range facilities plans by a Facilities Planning Committee composed of citizens, and finally a series of public hearings by the school board.
Why a levy?
• Safe, well-maintained facilities improve the educational performance of our students.
• A physical assessment of the district’s facilities resulted in just one school, Kootenai Elementary, receiving a “good” rating. Older schools including Northside, Southside, Sandpoint Middle School, and Lake Pend Oreille High School, were rated “unsatisfactory.”
• Improve health and safety of our students.
• Reduce the costs of operating district buildings.
Prioritizing Projects
In 2015, the LPOSD convened a Facilities Planning Committee (FPC) of 13 members representing staff, community members, parents, and alumni. FPC members represented local government, the construction industry, and other private sector businesses. The FPC’s responsibility was to identify and prioritize major facility improvement projects for LPOSD for the next 5 to 6 years, and to identify specific projects that would be funded.
Independent assessment
The Board of Trustees has taken seriously its charge to protect and preserve the school facility assets owned by the community and to ensure that their educational mission is supported by appropriate, cost-effective facilities. LPOSD commissioned a study to provide an independent, third-party, data-driven professional assessment of the conditions of its facilities. This plan helped them map the future of the district and how they might improve educational facilities.
Committee recommendations
The FPC invested a significant amount of time reviewing and discussing immediate and long-term priorities of students and the greater community before agreeing upon a set off recommendations. The recommended six-year plan strives to make the best possible use of district land currently owned; the projects are detailed here. (LINK TO PROJECT DETAILS PAGE)
Final decision
The proposed levy is the culmination of a process that included an exhaustive survey of all district schools by a professional consulting firm, the review and formulation of long-range facilities plans by a FPC composed of citizens, and finally a series of public hearings by the school board.