Levy passes, reversing school district’s cuts

Voters in the Plummer-Worley School District in North Idaho approved a two-year tax levy Tuesday that will enable school officials to restore funding for athletics, full-time kindergarten and five-day school weeks.

Sixty percent of the votes cast were in favor of the $1.1 million supplemental levy request. The tally was 561 yes to 374 no.

“Needless to say, we are ecstatic,” Superintendent Judi Sharrett said.

The cash-strapped district of about 400 students had eliminated all sports funding, cut kindergarten to part time and ordered three furlough days for all employees, and it was ready to cut one day off the school week starting this fall.

In a special meeting Wednesday morning, the school board voted to reinstate funding for sports, full-day kindergarten and a five-day week.

“Everyone is working really hard to get ready for kids to start back to school on Tuesday morning, and the district office is scrambling to ensure the public is notified regarding returning to a five-day calendar,” Sharrett said.

The district has been the only one in North Idaho without a property tax levy to make up for steep cuts the Legislature has made in public education spending. The district has shaved $2 million from its budget since 2007.

The same levy request fell short of passing last May, prompting the recent cuts.

The district employs about 45 teachers at two schools.