IEA members were heartened by Gov. Little’s commitment to avoid cuts to traditional public school budgets as lawmakers balance the state’s budget. Forcing cuts on already underfunded public schools — like cuts being demanded of agencies across state government — would significantly harm students, families and communities that are already straining to support the local public schools they rely upon every day.
The massive tax cuts passed by the Idaho Legislature last winter will force difficult decisions for lawmakers this session — decisions with huge impacts on real Idaho families, especially our state’s most vulnerable. It’s an unfortunate and completely predictable situation created by the Legislature.
The state’s financial situation is only more complicated because of the $50 million price tag on House Bill 93 — the tax credit voucher scheme passed by lawmakers over huge public outcry and that is being challenged as unconstitutional.
Because of these decisions by the Legislature, policymakers’ ability to address real issues facing public schools in Idaho — the special education funding gap is a prime example — are unlikely to be addressed this sessionin any significant way.
IEA members see Gov. Little’s commitment to protect public schools, even as many in the Idaho Legislature work to tear them down, as crucial to the essential work IEA members do every day educating Idaho’s next generations.
