In checking around behind the scenes, it seems to me that there isn't a solid, middle-of-the-road candidate ready to run for the Zone 3 seat (boundary here) now held by Trustee Terry Seymour. One is needed to wrench control of the School Board further from the hands of the uber-cons who masterminded the overthrow of the Coeur d''Alene School Board four years ago. If you recall, Tom Hamilton and Seymour were elected four years ago -- Seymour by 7 votes -- to form a beach head for the Hard Right in the area. Together, they were able to block competent former board chairman Wanda Quinn from being appointed to the School Board. Then, they were able through appointment (including one by commissioners to break 2-2 tie) to load the School Board completely with trustees who shared their ideology. With Hamilton at chairman, the School Board stumbled into several controversies, including the dumping of baccalaureate (IB/PYP) curriculum from district schools including Hayden Meadows, where parents fought to keep it.

Why is it important to wrest these seats from Hamilton and Seymour? Consider. The School Board is only one appointment away from falling back into the hands of the Hard Right again. Let's say that one of the current majority of trustees (Christa Hazel, Tom Hearn & Dave Eubanks) moves or is incapable of continuing to serve the community. The vacancy would likely create a 2-2 among board members charged with appointing someone. That would throw the decision into the laps of the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners, which now lean Hard Right. Given the same situation two years ago, a more moderate board picked a Hard Right candidate.

So you've been warned. Serving on the Coeur d'Alene School Board is a thankless, tough job, especially in the current environment in this town and certainly in the surrounding county. However, each seat is precious in terms of serving our community and protecting the quality of education in the community/DFO.