Approximately 100 protesters blocked entry to Senate committee meeting rooms Thursday afternoon forcing the cancellation of early afternoon Senate committee meetings and causing Senate Education Chair John Goedde (R-CDA) to delay the start of his committee meeting.
Typically at this time of the session, lawmakers and lobbyists rush to introduce legislation addressing a myriad of issues. Only a few House and Senate committees are authorized to introduce legislation this late in the session.
The IEA has historically supported all efforts to ensure that school districts utilize 100% of the funds they receive to hire teachers. Over the past few years, as school budgets have been cut and districts have struggled to access necessary funding, concerns about class sizes have escalated.
4th District Judge Patrick Owen’s ruled that Syringa Networks suit against the Idaho Department of Administration can go forward in determining whether the state’s contract for the Idaho Education Network project violated state law.
The Idaho Education Association’s Bus Driver Immunity Bill passed the Senate today and has now been sent on to the House. This bill would protect bus drivers from criminal and civil liability if they intervene on a bus to protect a rider.
Rep Steven Harris (R-Meridian) asked members of the House Education Committee to print a bill that would make gradual, but significant changes to the teacher evaluation process over the next five years. Committee members did print the bill, but several lawmakers cautioned the sponsor