Our View: West Valley school officials’ pricey ways stand out

Taxpayers in the generally low-income West Valley School District carry two distinctions: They have the highest tax rates in Spokane County and they finance the most lavish retreats and dinners for the school board, upper management and staff.

If the prime rib and $60 lobster tails didn’t give retreat attendees acid reflux, the detailed accounting in Sunday’s Spokesman-Review of their lavish events at tony Idaho digs sure should have.

In any event, you can bet taxpayers were spitting up their cornflakes when they learned that they have picked up the tab for overnight stays at Hill’s Resort at Priest Lake, Twin Lakes Village in Rathdrum and Clark House, a bed and breakfast, in Hayden Lake.

Then there’s the dinner for 12 at Beverly’s atop the Coeur d’Alene Resort, which cost $1,094.

For the past three years, the West Valley School District board, superintendent and others have escaped to Idaho for professional development, relationship building and goal-setting. Board retreats are open to the public, but residents face a long drive to attend a West Valley session.

Superintendent Polly Crowley says the district has a tradition of heading across the border every fall and spring. Traditions are nice, especially when someone else is paying for them.

Retreats are nice, too, and can be quite productive. The S-R editorial board has one every year at a colleague’s house, where we gnaw on policy, politics and provolone. We also have salads, cookies and cold cuts – and not just any ham and turkey, but the freshly sliced kind in the deli section of your grocery store.

The problem for West Valley isn’t the idea of those retreats; it’s the cost, which is completely off the charts when compared with other local school districts.

The Nine Mile Falls School District board has walked across the street to a fire station to hold its retreat for the last three years. The total cost has been $143, which is probably less than the tip West Valley left for that meal at Beverly’s.

The three-year retreat total for Spokane Public Schools, the area’s largest district, has been $1,100. For West Valley, it’s been $8,300 for retreats and special meetings, which is more than all of the other county districts combined.

Crowley says board members deserve rewards for their work, for which they are not paid. She also points to the district’s accomplishments.

All school board members know up front that aside from a small stipend for meeting days they won’t get paid. It’s public service that lures them to the work. That should be its own reward. Plus, there are other ways to honor selfless public servants.

West Valley’s leadership should think about the question posed by Cal Clausen, who owns two moderately priced hotels within the district’s boundaries:

“I would ask them whether they would spend their own money to go to the Coeur d’Alene Resort or just when the taxpayers are footing the bill.”

Wherever the West Valley board chooses to meet next year, we recommend the following item for the agenda: “Managing Public Perception.”