Governor Butch Otter addressed multiple education topics during his Tuesday morning session with the Idaho Press Club. In his remarks, Otter reaffirmed his budget proposal decision not to recommend pay raises for Idaho teachers. State Superintendent Tom Luna has requested a 1% raise in teacher base salaries and several legislators have also taken exception to the governor’s stance on increasing teacher salaries.
Otter also indicated that Idaho “probably” will not end up having to pay some $28 million related to the Idaho Education Network internet project. The federal government is withholding payments pending a review of the contract.
Idaho Ed News has a summary of Governor Otter’s education-related comments.