Schools Get Emergency Levy

School districts are counting their students and their cash for the new year, and once again the twain don’t meet.

The Post Falls School Board passed an emergency levy of $172,816 Friday morning to help offset the cost of its 3 percent growth.

Post Falls’ levy will pay for an additional teacher, textbooks, desks, chairs and higher transportation costs from new bus routes.

Coeur d’Alene School Board members will meet Monday morning to consider an emergency levy, too.

Although the increase in Coeur d’Alene is only 100 new students, school officials are concerned about a projected shortfall of $444,000 from the state.

Superintendent Doug Cresswell said he did not know what the district’s options are for making up the loss from the district’s $30 million budget, but an emergency levy may be one avenue.

School officials in Coeur d’Alene also announced that some bus routes will be leaving five to 15 minutes earlier in the morning starting Sept. 13. Bus drivers will be giving information to students for their parents regarding the changes.

Transportation director Don Arthur said the adjustments were needed to allow for transfers from one school to another.

Bonner County School District also is considering an emergency levy. Officials there will meet Monday to discuss the issue.