As we reported in a previous Hotline, a private school voucher bill passed both the House Education Committee and the House floor by narrow margins and could be heard by the Senate Education Committee next week. HB 590 poses major problems for public schools and is opposed by the IEA and several other education groups. Find out more about HB 590, private school vouchers, and why they are harmful to public schools by listening to this IEA REPORTER podcast with IEA President Kari Overall.
IEA President Kari Overall
Bill to Limit Bond Elections Still Alive
Legislation that would require school districts to wait 11 months before re-running bond measures made it through the House on a narrow 37-32-1 vote and is now slated for a hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee next week. HB 639, sponsored by Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, faced concerns in the House from representatives who disliked its lack of an emergency clause and felt it constituted state interference in what should be a local decision.
At least in part because Idaho law requires a two-thirds majority to pass bonds, some districts have felt it necessary to go back to voters with multiple bond requests in order to fund projects like construction and new facilities. An earlier version of this bill also included levies in the waiting period, but that has been removed from HB 639. Boise State Public Radio has a story with more information on this legislation.
