Cda School Board Puts Off ‘Brilliant’ Plan More Discussion Scheduled On Support Services Facility

Even though chairwoman Wanda Quinn lauded it as a “brilliant” plan, the Coeur d’Alene School Board on Monday put off deciding whether to build a support services facility.

It’ll take up the proposal again at its Nov. 11 meeting.

The idea is to build a combined bus barn, maintenance shop, storehouse and administration offices - all of which are spread across the school district now and are undersized or outdated.

The $1.4 million building would be paid for with savings realized from saved rent and efficiencies such as buying supplies in bulk. Taxes would not be raised.

A judge’s approval would be needed for the plan, but the district’s attorney said that shouldn’t be hard to get.

“I really commend you for your work,” Quinn told financial officer Dave Teater, who spent a year fine-tuning the plan. “My concern as a politician is: What does the public think of this?”

Board members, like several people who testified at the hearing, are worried that residents will think the district is doing an “end run” around them by not putting the proposal to a vote. Elections usually are required to construct school buildings because votes are needed to raise taxes.

“The biggest thing with the public is they don’t understand this isn’t going to cost them any money,” said board member Herb Cheeley.

The district should take the time to educate people about the project, just as it would take the time to inform them before a levy or bond election, Quinn said.

Among issues raised at Monday evening’s hearing on the matter:

Construction. Several speakers objected to a pole-frame building. Architect Mike Patano and most everyone else preferred longer-lasting concrete walls.

“We’re going to be building a barn,” said board member Edie Brooks.

But Teater insisted that the district couldn’t afford more than the cheaper pole construction and still be certain of paying for the building out of savings.

Future elections. Parent Vernon Church said he fears that voters offended by the district’s use of “judicial review” would not approve a much-needed multipurpose building for Dalton Elementary, which his children attend. Others worried that voters would turn down maintenance levies or new elementary schools if they thought an administration building was getting priority.

Need. Several school district managers explained that existing facilities were inefficient, dangerous and illegally inaccessible to the handicapped.

“Our building is going to need some major repairs if the decision is made to stay with what we have for a few more years,” said food service director Linda Turner. She rarely can buy food in bulk and save money, she said, because there is nowhere to store it.

, DataTimes