Despite failing nearly every class since the sixth grade, Tyler Thompson is now a freshman at a Sandpoint high school. When his mother questioned school administrators in two North Idaho school districts about why they were continuing to send her son on to the next grade level every year, she remembers their explanations focused on his size and age – he’s 15 years old, 6-foot-5 and built like a linebacker. When Kristi Thompson asked Tyler why he didn’t try harder in school, the teen told her, “They’re going to pass me anyway, Mom.” The decision to move a student from grade to grade despite a lack of academic achievement – commonly referred to as social promotion – has been controversial for decades. Although President Bill Clinton called for a ban on the practice in the 1990s, the decision to end it remains at the state and local levels/Jody Lawrence-Turner, SR. More here. (Kathy Plonka's SR photo: Tyler Thompson talks about his grades with his mother, Kristi Thompson)

Question: Do you support social promotion?

The Coeur d'Alene High School Vikings football teams has racking up a 5-0 record so far this season, but some parents of their next opponent - the Moscow Bears - are concerned about their kids' safety.The Vikings are one of the top ranked teams in the state and are coming off an 88-12 shellacking of Sandpoint last week. They've been gearing up for their homecoming game against the Moscow Bears next week but have hit a roadblock. Some parents in Moscow are concerned about their kids' safety; they say it's not about the threat of losing the game; rather it comes down to the size of the two teams. Moscow has fewer players which would mean fewer substitutes, and some parents think that's just going to lead to injured players/Anusha Roy, KXLY. More here. Click below to see video …

• 3A Bonners Ferry shocks 4A Moscow 14-7/Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Question: Do you think Moscow was so caught up in its controversy with Coeur d'Alene that it forgot to bring its A Game to Friday contest w/smaller Bonners Ferry?

The lopsided score on Friday night raised some eyebrows around the state, so much so that Sandpoint athletic director Tom Albertson was fielding calls on Saturday from colleagues who hadn’t seen the game accusing the Vikings of running up the score. One caller had heard a rumor that Albertson and Coeur d’Alene athletic director Todd Gilkey engaged in a shouting match after the game. The funny thing was, Gilkey was not even present at the game. I had a front row seat for the action, and didn’t feel that the Vikings ran the score up, despite the high total. Running the score up usually occurs when starters are left in and teams continue to throw in the second half, and the Vikings did neither. They’re just a damn good football team, plain and simple, and could probably hang a similar number on a lot of 4A teams in Idaho/Eric Plummer, Bonner County Bee. More here. (SR file photo: Coeur d'Alene QB Chad Chalich, with ball, threw for three touchdowns against Lake City last year)

Question: What do you think about the lopsided 88-12 victory by powerhouse Coeur d'Alene High over Sandpoint last week?

Item: Sandpoint High parents don’t want 2009 graduates going to Triple Play for Grad Night/Conor Christofferson, Bonner County Bee

More Info: Plans for Sandpoint High School’s annual Grad Night celebration are in flux after a group of senior class parents voiced concerns about the party’s location.Traditionally held at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, the June event is scheduled to take place at Coeur d’Alene’s Triple Play Family Fun Park. The move has proven controversial, with a group of unhappy parents going as far as threatening to hold a competing party at the fairgrounds.

Question: Would you be angry if your kid’s graduation class decided to hold Grad Night in another community?