IEA members at the 2022 Delegate Assembly April 22-23 brought forward 30 policy proposals for consideration of delegates. Here’s a listing of these New Business Items, the action taken by the assembly and which member made the motion.
NBI No. 1
Topic: Retirement Rule of 80
Motion: The IEA will work with PERSI, legislators and other necessary entities to change the Rule of 90 to the Rule of 80.
Result: FAILED
Motion Maker: Erin Stutzman (Region 7)
NBI No. 2
Topic: Endorse State Petition Initiative
Motion: The Idaho Education Association shall endorse the Idaho State Petition Initiative, “Quality Education Act” or full title, “An Initiative Supplementing Funding for K-12 Education by Increasing the Individual and Corporate Income Tax Rates.”
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Levi Cavener (Region 8)
NBI No. 3
Topic: Support Quality Education Act
Motion: Using existing IEA infrastructure, the IEA will support and promote the passage of the Idaho State Petition Initiative “Quality Education Act,” or full title, “An Initiative Supplementing Funding for K-12 Education by Increasing the Individual and Corporate Income Tax Rates.”
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Levi Cavener (Region 8)
NBI No. 4
Topic: Pay Ladder – Experience & Education Multiplier
Motion: IEA will work with legislators to update Section 33-1004A (The Career Ladder) to create a formula that can be used when calculating BA+24 for currently uncounted, pre-certification coursework by teachers with double majors (subject area plus education), BA in their subject area in addition to completion of teaching credential coursework, or transfers from states that require BA in subject area before acceptance to a teaching credential program.
Result: WITHDRAWN
Motion Maker: Lisa Odaffer (Region 4)
NBI No. 5
Topic: English Language Learner – ELL Supports
Motion: The IEA will work with legislators and the State Department of Education to draft legislation that includes protections and supports for English language learners in all Idaho school districts.
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Stormy Heinz
NBI No. 6
Topic: Teacher Evaluation – Special Education
Motion: The IEA shall work with the legislature to ensure districts are using the appropriate Danielson Framework for Teaching to include the Special Education framework and specialists or an equivalent to ensure alignment of the evaluation process across the state.
Result: PASSED AS AMENDED
Motion Maker: Alicia Purdy (Region 8)
NBI No. 7
Topic: Teacher Evaluation – Special Education
Motion: The IEA lobby team shall work with the Idaho State Department of Education and Legislature to provide the proper funding necessary to implement House Bill 731 in Idaho schools. Implementation must provide evidence-based assessments/screeners, interventions, curriculum, and training for all General and Special Education teachers.
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Tina Grieve (Region 8)
NBI No. 8
Topic: Disrupted Learning: Conditions of Schools
Motion: Disrupted learning is typically associated with extreme student behaviors. These range from verbal abuse such as screaming and threatening, to spitting, kicking, and hitting behaviors. This includes destruction of property and the weaponizing of classroom objects. These extreme disruptive behaviors represent a significant obstacle to maintaining a safe learning and working environment for both teachers and students. To help resolve these extreme classroom disruptions, the IEA will work with legislators to implement solutions to these difficult working and learning conditions.
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Benjamin Clark (Region 1)
NBI No. 9
Topic: Funding – Enrollment Based
Motion: IEA will work with legislators to make sure that the funding provided to the district through enrollment each year is permanent. This would also give districts autonomy on what percentage of teaching staff they could hire for each year.
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Brittany Horrell (Region 6)
NBI No. 10
Topic: Registered Nurses
Motion: IEA will work to support legislators to draft a bill that would provide adequate and guaranteed funding for districts to staff Registered Nurses at all schools. Adequate funding reflecting the going rate for nurses. The rate would be similar to how the career ladder is set up for teachers (based on experience).
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Brittany Horrell (Region 6)
NBI No. 11
Topic: Student Retention & Truancy
Motion: IEA will work to support legislators to amend the current policy regarding the legality of holding students back. The amendment would include providing the district/school the ability to hold students back based on academics and not necessarily when their birthday is. If legislation is not able to change the amendment then we ask IEA to support legislation on revising truancy policies that hold parents more accountable for children missing school.
Result: FAILED
Motion Maker: Brittany Horrell (Region 6)
NBI No. 12
Topic: School Age Requirement
Motion: IEA will work to support legislators to pass a bill that mandates children be required to attend school starting at the age of 5 and not 7.
Result: FAILED
Motion Maker: Brittany Horrell (Region 6)
NBI No. 13
Topic: Paid Maternity Leave
Motion: IEA will work with legislators to draft a bill that would fund at the state level paid family leave of 6-8 weeks in the first year after the birth or adoption of a child.
Result: PASSED AS AMENDED
Motion Maker: Brittany Horrell (Region 6)
NBI No. 14
Topic: Classified Staff – Livable Wages
Motion: IEA will work to support legislators to provide adequate and guaranteed funding to districts to properly pay classified staff. This funding would give classified staff a livable wage and help retain qualified staff.
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Brittany Horrell (Region 6)
NBI No. 15
Topic: Technology Funding
Motion: IEA will work to support legislators to provide adequate and guaranteed funding to districts to properly fund the technology department. This would include making sure that the technology staff would be paid a fair hourly/salary rate.
Result: FAILED
Motion Maker: Brittany Horrell (Region 6)
NBI No. 16
Topic: Recruitment & Retention of Educators of Color in Idaho Schools
Motion: In order to address the current lack of educator diversity in Idaho, the IEA will work with our Aspiring Educators and the HCR committee to develop a plan to recruit and retain more diverse educators of color in Idaho.
Result: PASSED AS AMENDED
Motion Maker: Sarah Shackelford (Region 7)
NBI No. 17
Topic: Professional Standards Commission (PSC) Complaint
Motion: Appropriate Idaho Education Association staff, member volunteers, and IEA Professional Standards Commission (PSC) members will create a “How-To Guide” for writing and submitting complaints to the Professional Standards Commission (PSC). The guide shall at least, include narrative length, details to include, and how to collect and include exhibits and artifacts. A document will also be developed stating the legal protections for individuals submitting a complaint.
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Randy Wilhelm (Region 1)
NBI No. 18
Topic: Statewide Leadership Development & Transparency: IEA Elected & Appointed Positions
Motion: Using existing IEA infrastructure, the IEA will post all elected and appointed State and Region levels. Their terms and election rules will be posted on the NEA360 General Membership Group and NEA360 DA Group prior to DA annually. The IEA website will post State and Region leadership positions with their respective terms and updated monthly. The NEA360 General Membership group will have board policy and bylaws posted and updated as needed, at least annually prior to DA. The IEA will create Region Membership Groups within NEA360 in which region bylaws, meeting minutes, and other information will be open access for all IEA NEA360 members.
Result: FAILED
Motion Maker: Laura Milton & Morgan Hammon (Region 6)
NBI No. 19
Topic: Idaho Career Ladder-Advanced Professional Endorsement
Motion: The IEA will support the Legislature in removing the requirement of APE rung performance criteria to including 2019-2020 COVID school year.
Result: PASSED AS AMENDED
Motion Maker: Brenda Southwick (Region 4)
NBI No. 20
Topic: Regional Budget Carry Over
Motion: The IEA will allow regions to carry over any unused funds within their budget at the end of the FY2022.
Result: FAILED
Motion Maker: Hope Wayne (Region 4)
NBI No. 21
Topic: School Bonds
Motion: The IEA will work with state legislators to change the threshold required to pass school bonds from a supermajority to a simple majority.
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Stephanie Brodwater (Region 1)
NBI No. 22
Topic: School Building Funding
Motion: The IEA will work with state legislators and other educational stakeholders to create a permanent school infrastructure fund in order to fund the ongoing building and infrastructure needs for K-12 schools. In addition, the IEA will work with state legislators and other educational stakeholders to allow local school districts to supplement building funds through other sources, such as the collection of impact fees.
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Stephanie Brodwater (Region 1)
NBI No. 23
Topic: Financial Support for Interns
Motion: The Idaho Education Association will work with Legislators to draft legislation that provides financial support to Aspiring Educators during their internship semesters.
Result: PASSED
Motion Maker: Jamie Morton (Region 2)
NBI No. 24
Topic: Promotional Video – Membership
Motion: The IEA will develop and distribute a video explaining the history of the organization and benefits of membership.
Result: FAILED
Motion Maker: Rick Jones (Region 1)
NBI No. 25
Topic: Reduce Taxes
Motion: Lobby Legislature to reduce income taxes for Public Service Employees.
Result: FAILED
Motion Maker: Kelly Reed-Heuer (Region 9)
NBI No. 26
Topic: Class Size
Motion: Direct IEA to work with Legislators to limit class size to 20 students in grades K-3 and 25 students in grades 4-12. An exception for elective classes in coordination with that teacher should be allowed.
Result: FAILED AS AMENDED
Motion Maker: Kelly Reed-Heuer (Region 9)
NBI No. 27
Topic: Moving Secondary Start Time
Motion: The IEA will work with Legislators and the State Department of Education to draft legislation to move secondary start times to reflect best practices in scientific data and student learning outcomes.
Result: FAILED
Motion Maker: Cord Breuer (Region 9)
NBI No. 28
Topic: Digital Citizenship for Students
Motion: The IEA will work with the Idaho Legislature to require at least 1 semester of digital citizenship for middle school students.
Result: FAILED
Motion Maker: Kendra Wisenbaker (Region 9)
NBI No. 29
Topic: Technology Use Awareness
Motion: IEA will work with the Idaho Legislature to include screen addiction into the Idaho Health Education content standards.
Result: PASSED AS AMENDED
Motion Maker: Kendra Wisenbaker (Region 9)
NBI No. 30
Topic: Bilingual Education – Recruit and Retain Educators
Motion: IEA will work with Legislators to draft legislation that will recruit and retain highly qualified bilingual certified and classified educators.
Result: PASSED AS AMENDED
Motion Maker: Zoraida Juarez (Region 7)