Tribe Shares Gambling Proceeds Schools, Libraries Receive Checks Totaling $794,000

Gambling revenues turned into educational opportunities for North Idaho children as the Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe donated 5 percent of its profits Wednesday.

“The No. 1 priority of our tribe is education,” said tribal Chairman Ernie Stensgar as he passed out 11 checks totaling $794,000. The ceremony was held at the tribe’s Worley casino.

The tribe has been donating part of its gaming profits since 1993 after making an agreement with the state of Idaho in 1992 to donate to schools. Wednesday’s checks bring donations to $2.5 million over the past seven years. The first year, two checks were given out for $3,000 each, said Bob Bostwick, the tribe’s spokesman.

Gambling profits last year were $15.8 million.

This year, for the first time, the tribe’s donations reached beyond the reservation to school districts in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls and to other entities. But the greatest percentage went to schools within reservation boundaries.

The Coeur d’Alene Tribal School and education department in DeSmet received $394,000. And the Plummer/Worley School District, whose student body is half Native American, received $255,000.

“We’re grateful,” said George Asan, superintendent of the Plummer/Worley district, whose annual budget is $4 million. “We’ve put the money back into the community and where our students would most benefit.”

In the past, Asan said, tribal money has been used to buy portable classrooms so elementary classes would have no more than 20 students.

It also has been used to buy supplies ranging from computers and basketball uniforms to musical instruments and art equipment. The money has been used to purchase heaters, open day-care programs and start classes teaching the Coeur d’Alene Indian language.

At the tribal school, the money will be used to help build a new early childhood education center, said Dianne Allen, the tribe’s education director. Children’s services such as Headstart, medical care and day-care centers currently are located in different places. Allen said the tribe wants to create a center where all those services will be under one roof. The tribe already has designated property for that purpose, she said.

This year’s donation also will be used to promote the teaching of the Coeur d’Alene Indian language.

“We are badly in need of teachers who can teach the Coeur d’Alene language,” Allen said.

In the past, only the tribal school, the Plummer-Worley School District and the St. Maries School District have received money. Added to the list this year were the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Kootenai school districts, along with the Tensed, Plummer and Worley libraries, North Idaho College and the American Indian Art Institute.

“I’m speechless. This is the best gift we’ve received in the 15 years I’ve worked at the library,” said Paulina Freeburg, head librarian at the Plummer Library, as she accepted a check for $10,000. “It will provide tremendous opportunities.”

Freeburg said the library building needs repairs and she hopes the money can be used to further that effort. The library’s yearly budget is only $37,000, so the tribe’s gift is a great help, she said.

“I appreciate the spirit of generosity the tribe has shown to approve education,” Freeburg said.

Another librarian, Dianna Paulk of the Tensed Library, was so stunned when she saw the amount on her check that she just kept patting her heart and saying, “Oh my goodness.”

Stensgar said the libraries had been included in the gift because of the importance of reading in a child’s education.

“We’re investing in our region by investing in our children,” he said. “The commitment and the dollars have already gone far beyond anyone’s wildest dreams and the future promises even greater contributions.”

Adult and higher education opportunities also are included in the tribe’s commitment. To date, more than $1.5 million has been given to tribal members seeking college and adult education, beyond the donations to local schools. The tribe also has contributed more than $2 million to infrastructure improvements in Plummer and Worley, including water, sewer work and road upgrades, Bostwick said.

This sidebar appeared with the story: AT A GLANCE Who got what

The following groups received money from the Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe:

The Coeur d’Alene Tribal School and Department of Education - $394,000; Plummer/Worley School District - $255,000; St. Maries School District - $20,000; Kootenai School District - $10,000; Coeur d’Alene School District - $10,000; Post Falls School District - $10,000; Plummer Library - $10,000; Tensed Library - $10,000; Worley Library project - $5,000; North Idaho College - $30,000; American Indian Art Institute - $40,000.