Lakeland School District searching for solutions after failed levy

RATHDRUM, Idaho — Next year could look very different for students at Lakeland School District, due to the fallout of a failed levy vote.

The levy failed in November, with 50.6% of voters voting against it. It would have generated roughly $20 million over the next two years.

Now, school officials are trying to figure out how to navigate the future with millions of dollars potentially missing from the budget.

A majority of the funds from the levy would have gone to teachers, staff and administrators salaries. Parents in the school district said the idea of people losing their jobs because of the failed levy is frightening.

“I didn’t want my neighbor to lose her job,” said parent of three, Courtney Currie.

Currie voted in favor of the levy and said she feels the levy is needed to provide the quality education her kids currently have.

“I feel like this is something we should be doing for our children,” she said.

Another person in the community told 4 News Now they voted against the levy because they felt the school district already has everything it needs to stay afloat.

District officials laid out several other potential recommendations to alleviate the district’s budget.

Those suggestions include closing down an elementary school, creating a modified work day or moving to a four-day school week.

Board of Trustees members said a rerun of the levy is not out of the question. The Lakeland School District will hold a public work session on December 18 to further discuss different options.