COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Coeur d'Alene Public Schools has secured funding for critical programs after voters approved a $25 million replacement levy with a 61% pass rate.
The levy will allow the district to continue vital services for its 9,700 students, including mental health resources and school security.
Mental health services, such as risk assessments, suicide prevention programs, and in-school therapy, were facing significant cuts before the levy's passage.
"Some of those services that would have gone away are some of [the] therapy that they provide, with parent permission," said Keith Orchard, Mental Health Coordinator for Coeur d'Alene Public Schools. "They see students during school hours. That normally would not get those services outside of school. They either don't have insurance, or they don't have transportation."
The levy also ensures the continued presence of school resource officers. "It creates an environment where if the staff feel safe in their school, it allows them just to focus on their job of educating their students," said Thomas Gandy, Safety and Security Coordinator for CDA Public Schools.
Following the successful levy vote, the district plans to present a resolution to the Idaho legislature to change the levy frequency, addressing concerns raised by voters about the current "forever" levy option.
"In Idaho, you have the option to run the levy for one year, or two years or forever. And we’ve also heard from our community that forever is a long time," said Superintendent Dr. Shon Hocker.
He hopes a potential 4-6 year levy cycle will reduce voter fatigue and improve community support for future funding requests.