State To Discuss Bonner School Troubles Education Department To Hold Town Meetings; Public Involvement Implored
The state Department of Education will hold three town meetings in Bonner County to outline the district’s problems and rally local support for troubled schools.
“My main goal is to give the people a picture from the outside, and implore them, not shame them, into becoming more involved with the operation of their school district,” said Jim Smith, who is heading a state team reviewing the district. “We will probably recommend some staff changes.”
A state investigation into the school district was launched several weeks ago because of a growing roster of problems. The district faces a $158,000 budget shortfall. Teachers earlier this year passed a resolution of no confidence in Superintendent Max Harrell, and the district’s special education department is being scrutinized for misspending.
Results of the state investigation will soon be disclosed separately to the Bonner County school district trustees, then to school administrators.
Three town hall meetings will then be scheduled sometime in July.
“The community needs to know,” Smith said, “They need to know the good, the bad and the ugly.”
State Board of Education members got an update on the investigation into Bonner County schools at a regular meeting in Lewiston Thursday. That meeting continues today.
Caldwell board member Thomas Dillon urged Smith to communicate clearly to Bonner County the board’s distaste for school districts that are repeatedly fiscally insolvent.
“We keep walking away from that one all the time,” Dillon said.
In the last six years, Bonner County has had five different superintendents and 100 percent school trustee turnover. This rapid turnover plays a significant role in the district’s situation.
According to Smith, Sen. Shawn Keogh, R-Sandpoint, and Rep. John Campbell, R-Sandpoint, first requested an investigation into seven different school problems, including nepotism, improper snow removal, staff ratios and the district’s leasing of administrative offices for $48,000 a year.
The investigation was not started immediately after legislators requested it, because officials feared their opinions on financial or management issues could sway a pending lawsuit. The multimillion-dollar suit, filed against the district and state by school trustee Bill Osmunson, claims the state does not properly fund education. It now appears the department’s concerns are moot, since Judge James Michaud allowed the litigation to go forward last week.
“What we are doing now will become a very integral part of the lawsuit,” Smith conceded.
Bonner County School Superintendent Harrell also requested a state team be sent to the district.
When the team arrived, it reviewed several areas of concern and also scrutinized the district’s proposed budget for next year.
The team ultimately called the budget illegal, because it put the district $1 million in debt.
“We felt if we didn’t say something we would be condoning that budget, which we couldn’t do in good conscience,” Smith said.
The state has offered technical advice on budgeting or other financial questions the district might have. Its final report on the district is due out in July and will include recommendations for correcting problems.
, DataTimes