School Upgrade Plan Has Everything Going For It
Coeur d’Alene High looks nice from Fourth Street - and that’s a problem as school supporters push for a $19.8 million special facilities levy to renovate CHS, among other projects.
From a distance, patrons can’t see the building’s flaws that come from nearly three decades of intense use.
Community bigshots who toured CHS Thursday, however, saw that the place is held together with chewing gum and baling wire. Principal Steve Casey and his staff have done a remarkable job hiding building shortcomings behind fresh paint and elbow grease. But you can’t polish a horse apple forever.
The $10.5 million earmarked for CHS work should meet our high school needs for the next 25 years. Also, the overall levy will put us almost halfway home toward meeting all our school construction needs - without raising taxes. That’s why tax activist Ron Rankin and the Kootenai County Property Owners Association aren’t opposing the levy. Rankin and his group realize the pay-as-you-go method is far cheaper than bonded indebtedness, saving taxpayers millions of dollars. I hope you do, too.
When the going gets tough, some quit
Democrats this primary season appear to be angry at the Idaho media for not serving as their mouthpiece. U.S. Senate candidate Bill Mauk, for example, gave our editorial board a tongue lashing for not hanging on his every word when he comes to town. Now, Democrat Cheri Erwin has taken her frustration with the press to the next level. Lacking name recognition and angry that the media have snubbed her dark horse campaign, the Twin Falls candidate for lieutenant governor melted down. She protested Thursday by pulling out of a statewide televised debate with state Sen. Sue Reents, D-Boise, her primary opponent. The debate was co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Idaho Press Club. In essence, Erwin rejected a statewide forum because she was being denied free publicity. No wonder Idaho Democrats are becoming an endangered species.
Some don’t pay attention anyway
On the other hand, The Idaho Spokesman-Review could print every word every candidate said - and some readers still would complain about a lack of coverage. So, I’m warning you now. We’re publishing plenty of information about the contested primaries. If you want to cast an informed vote, pay attention to media reports. Or call a candidate or local political headquarters for information. There’s no reason to be in the dark at election time.