School Savings Promised, But Method Suspect Bonds Would Follow If New Building Ok’d By School Board, Judge

The head bean-counter for Coeur d’Alene’s public schools thinks he’s found a way to save money and get some badly needed building space, to boot.

Assistant Superintendent Dave Teater is proposing that a combination bus garage, warehouse and food service facility be built on Kathleen Avenue, next to the middle school that will be under construction soon.

The building, which would include administration offices, would not require voter approval. It would be paid for with money now spent on rent, utility bills and other related costs.

“I’m not talking about raising taxes. I’m talking about using money that we have in this district for a more efficient use,” Teater said Friday. “We may be able to turn money back into instructional services.”

Teater’s idea still needs approval of the school board and a judge. But some parents already are concerned about it.

Simone Kincaid noted that administration buildings are low on the district’s list of funding priorities. Schools are at the top.

“We have children eating in a firetrap at Dalton. The new paint job makes Lakes look good on the outside, but the inside is literally falling apart … the district has said there’s not enough money for every child to have textbooks.”

Teater agreed that schools are the top priority, but said judicial review - his proposed method for funding - isn’t available for school buildings.

Under judicial review, or validation, the district would ask a judge if a support services building qualifies as an “ordinary and necessary” expense. If the judge says yes, the district can issue tax-exempt bonds.

The bonds would pay off a 20-year mortgage.

While Teater is not aware of another school district that has used judicial review, he said it is commonly used by other local governments.

“We’re not looking for any kind of fancy building here,” he said.

Warehouse-type construction, not red brick, is what district officials are proposing.

The preliminary cost estimate is $1.4 million, with annual mortgage payments of $88,000. Teater said a conservative estimate of yearly savings from the consolidation would be $92,148.

For example, he said, food service could save $24,100 a year if it had a place to store more food, and could buy it in bulk. The district no longer would pay $17,000 for the existing maintenance building. And maintenance workers could save money if they had a place to store and repair desks.

“If we can save one desk per quarter per school, we can realize $5,600 in savings,” he said.

While there aren’t direct cost savings involved with having new administration offices, Teater noted that the existing building is cramped and not meeting federal standards for handicapped access.

Besides being inconvenient for the disabled, that leaves the district open to lawsuits.

School board chair Wanda Quinn emphasized Friday that the trustees haven’t decided whether to approve the building proposal. The public can comment at an Oct. 1 board workshop, which begins at 5 p.m. in the school district office.

A public hearing also is part of the judicial review process.

Eileen Cox, a frequent critic of the school administration and a member of its planning committee, said the building is needed. But people might see a new administration building as extravagant and wonder why they should spend tax money on school construction, she said.

“Considering the public perception of this decision, I have some concerns for the success of future levy elections,” Cox said.

, DataTimes