

Lakeland Highlights
January 2025
Superintendent's Message
Greetings Lakeland Families,
Thank you for all you do to support our students and staff! We appreciate you and are grateful for the opportunity to partner with you.
It has been a very busy month in the Lakeland Jt. School District. I will try to capture for you some of the most important highlights.
Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC)
The Long Range Planning Committee has been meeting this year. One of our tasks is to look at our bus routes to ensure that we are running as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. We have two small spots where our buses have to travel a significant distance to get to a place where they can turn around and head to their schools. At our meeting in early January, two principals submitted a proposal to the group to modify the Garwood and Twin Lakes Elementary attendance zones to adjust enrollment so there is more uniformity. Our process for zone changes requires a lot of parent input. We met on Monday, January 27th to roll up our sleeves and look at the district as a whole. The proposal that was presented early in January was on the agenda so the parents could provide input. I want to make sure our parents are clear that I am not looking to change attendance zones for next year. The charge of the LRPC is to look 5-10 years out. This group will look at the entire district, where new subdivisions are going, and if the need arises, what shifts make the most sense. At this time, none of our elementary schools are at or over the ideal enrollment for each, which gives us time to make thoughtful, informed decisions. If you would like to help this group create a 5-10 year plan, we will be meeting on February 10th at Garwood Elementary. This work is not specific to any one school, but the district as a whole. All are welcome to attend. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Supplemental Levy
At the January 15th board meeting, the trustees approved a $7.52 million supplemental levy, which will run on Tuesday, May 20th. If you are interested in helping us get information to our taxpayers, please contact me.
Parent and Community Advocacy Meeting
I meet the first Tuesday of each month from 4:00 - 5:00 with any parents or community members who would like to join us. This gives our community the opportunity to ask questions and get answers. If you have questions you would like answered, we have a Google Form linked to the District website where you can anonymously add your questions regardless of whether you can attend the meetings or not. All meetings are recorded and posted so you can access them at your convenience.
It looks like snow is showing up in our forecast again. Please be sure you have opted in for Skylert messages to ensure that you receive any notifications in the event that school is closed due to hazardous road conditions.
Thank you for sharing your students with us!
Lisa Arnold
District Highlights
Over the last 4 years, Lakeland High School has raised $116,956.14 during the Battle for the Paddle competition. All money raised goes directly to the Rathdrum Lions Club Backpack Program and the Lakeland Strong Fund. The Backpack Program provides food for area children over the weekend. The Lakeland Strong Fund assists Lakeland families in times of crisis.
These efforts are a direct reflection of the quality of students and staff and the supporting community we have at Lakeland High School!
We are so proud of our students fundraising efforts! This year we donated 1,305 lbs of food to the Spirit Lake Food Bank for a 3 year total of 3,710 lbs of food!
Welcome to the Lakeland Joint School District Monthly Finance newsletter! We want to know what questions you have about district finances. We're planning to use this newsletter to answer your questions and provide updates and additional insights into the district's operations.
Please use this link to access the newsletter as well as this form to send in any questions you might have.
🗓 Important Dates
⛄ February 4 ~ Community/Parent Advocacy Committee Meeting @District Office 4:00-5:00pm
⛄ February 5 ~ Regular Meeting of the LJSD Board @6:00pm
⛄ February 6 ~ LJSD Policy Committee Meeting @District Office 6:00-7:30pm
⛄ February 10 ~ Long Range Planning meeting @Garwood Elementary 5:30-7:00pm
⛄ February 13 ~ LJSD Policy Committee Meeting @District Office 6:00-7:30pm
⛄ February 19 ~ Regular Meeting of the LJSD Board @6:00pm
⛄ February 20 ~ LJSD Policy Committee Meeting @District Office 6:00-7:30pm
💗 February 14 ~ Valentines Day - Happy Valentines!!
⛄ February 17 ~ President's Day - NO SCHOOL
⛄ February 27 ~ End of Second Trimester
⛄ February 28 ~ No School grades K-5
PLEASE JOIN US!!
Regular Meeting of the LJSD Board of Trustees
Special Meeting of the LJSD Board of Trustees
Parent Advocacy Group
We realize that many people are unable to attend our monthly parent advocacy meetings due to time constraints. In an effort to ensure that your questions are answered, here is a link where you can provide agenda items you would like to have discussed. If you are unable to attend, you will at least be able to listen to the discussion via the video link for the month. We appreciate your partnership! Thank you for sharing your children with us! We will be sharing the running agenda/minutes here.
Policy Committee
LJSD Policies Under Review
The Board of Trustees reviews policies continuously to keep its Board Policy Manual up-to-date. The Board values stakeholder input and has created an ongoing avenue for you to review any proposed changes/updates in Board policy and submit comments to the Policy Committee. Policies under review are linked below and open for comments. We appreciate your input. Thank you, Lynn Paslay, Assistant Superintendent.
Draft Policy
- Stakeholder's Draft Policy 5740 Reduction in Force
- Stakeholder's Draft Policy 5740P Reduction in Force Procedure
- Stakeholder's Draft Policy 5740F1 Reduction in Force Form
Current Policy
Long Range Planning Meeting
The Long Range Facilities Planning Committee is made up of community members and Lakeland Joint School District staff. The purpose of this committee is to look at the state of our facilities to gain a full understanding of current and future needs. The LRFPC members will in turn take their recommendations to the Lakeland Board of Trustees to help with planning for the future.
The LJSD Board of Trustees is gathering names of parents and patrons interested in serving on a long-range facility planning committee. Please use this sign-up form to indicate your interest. The specific scope of the work has not been outlined yet, but the Board is beginning the process of gathering committee members. Feel free to call the District Office at 208-687-0431 if you have any questions. Thank you for your interest
1/27/25 Long Range Planning Meeting Minutes HERE.
Quick Links for Parents
Parent Resources
Need Skyward Assistance? helpdesk2@lakeland272.org
2023 -2024 Free and Reduced Lunch Application
Zone Transfer/Open Enrollment Form
LJSD Technology Resources for Parents Website – CLICK HERE
Food Bank locations in Kootenai County – CLICK HERE
Rathdrum Parks and Recreation - CLICK HERE
Spirit Lake Parks and Recreation -CLICK HERE