IEA Hotline—March 27, 2020 COVID-19: Latest Developments and Resources Since last Friday’s Hotline, we have seen the State Board of Education announce a “soft closure” of all public schools until at least April 20 and the Governor issue a 21-day “stay-at-home” order for the entire state. The Idaho Education Association has been at the forefront…
IEA Hotline—March 20, 2020 Legislature Adjourns Sine Die Even as schools, public buildings, and businesses around the state were closing, the Idaho Legislature continued to meet this week, although with an increased sense of urgency. The Senate adjourned sine die yesterday. The House met this morning, then voted to adjourn by a narrow 32-28 margin,…
IEA Hotline—March 13, 2020 Advanced Professional Educator Pay Bill Passes Senate Education Committee HB 523, which would increase state allocations to districts by $223 million over the next five years to increase pay for veteran educators and bolster Idaho’s sub-standard teacher retention rates, passed the Senate Education Committee on a unanimous vote Thursday. It…
IEA Hotline—March 6, 2020 Bill to Limit School Elections Could Hamstring School Districts Legislation that would severely limit the ability of school districts to pass critical bonds and levies is still alive at the Capitol. HB 393 would eliminate the election windows in March and August for running school bonds and levies. It is worth…
As Americans, we have a long history of placing high value on education. Thomas Jefferson spoke and wrote to great lengths about the importance of a public education system and the necessity of education to the success of a free society. Our Idaho state constitution requires the legislature to establish and maintain a system of…