Cda Tribe Donation Triples For Schools

The Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe is giving $150,000 in bingo profits to two Benewah County school districts.

The Plummer/Worley School District and the Coeur d’Alene Tribal School each received $75,000, tribal communications director Donna Matheson said.

Last year, each school received $25,000.

Under its agreement with the state, the Coeur d’Alenes are required to give 5 percent of gaming revenues to education. The tribe two years ago opened a bingo hall near Worley. In 1994, tribal bingo revenues were $1.7 million. Last year, that rose to $3.1 million.

“We also want to see Indian gaming revenues improving the standard of living on the reservation,” said Matheson. “Indian children and non-Indian children alike can both benefit.”

The money will help pay for Coeur d’Alene language classes, software and computers for Internet access. , DataTimes