Feb, 15, 2009
EDUCATION
Lynden schools to keep donation from tribe
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KIRA MILLAGE
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
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LYNDEN -- After a year of thinking about it, the Lynden School Board decided Thursday night to keep a controversial $30,000 donation from the Nooksack Indian Tribe.
"I have though this through, and in terms of Nooksack people giving us this gift, in the same way as any group giving us a gift, it would be a slap in the face if we don't accept this gift," said Steve Hortegas. The funding will be used "exclusively for the Readiness to Learn Program," a program that helps underprivileged students stay in school.
Out of five board members, John Krieg was the only one opposed to keeping the money.
Since 2006, the district has received three separate "no-strings-attached" donations from the tribe, totaling $30,000, according to Superintendent Dennis Carlson.
Several people spoke against the board's view Thursday night, saying that the donation is from gambling money and that accepting it makes it look like the school district was bought by the Nooksack Tribe so that it would support the Northwood Crossing Casino.
"I don’t see how we can be accused of having the Nooksack Tribe buy our favor when we don't make decisions that favor the Nooksack Tribe," said board chairman Larry Korthuis. "If we gave the money back, it wouldn't accomplish anything in regards to the concerns by the anti-casino group."
The only action the school district has taken in response to the controversial casino is putting out a letter against the liquor license, Carlson said.
Hortegas brought up the point that education in Washington receives funding from the state lottery as well as the cigarette tax.
In response to that, Craig Mayberry, who spearheaded the anti-casino movement, said that accepting money from a casino is different than the lottery.
"The way I rationalize that in my own mind is the level of exploitation that goes on," he said. "Slot machines are proven to exploit people more than the lottery does." Reach Kira Millage at kira.millage@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2266. Visit her School Days blog at TheBellinghamHerald.com/blogs.
