2026 IEA Delegate Assembly Brings Lively Debate, Decision on Governor

What happened: More than 375 delegates elected by their local unions converged at the Boise Centre on April 17-18 during the Idaho Education Association’s Delegate Assembly, the annual gathering that sets the course for the union. 

• Members set IEA’s priorities through new business items (NBIs). This year, there were 16 NBIs brought forward by members. 

The context: This year’s Delegate Assembly began just one week after Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 516, the anti-union legislation that will affect how members communicate and organize in their workplaces. 

• Members were upset and disappointed, and it showed — out of the 16 NBIs, four were directed toward Gov. Little. 

What members decided: Members debated for more than an hour over how to properly convey their deep disappointment and displeasure with the governor. 

• Ultimately, members decided to issue a vote of no confidence in the governor and issue a news release about their vote, which was sent the morning of April 21 and picked up in the media.  

• Other NBIs focused on the creation of a rural schools caucus, dues collections, hospitality during the Lobby Day dinner, and many more. 

• For a full list of NBIs, visit the member portal of idahoea.org and navigate to the Delegate Assembly page. Please note: You’ll need to create a member profile to sign into the website if you have not done so already. 

It wasn’t all NBIs: IEA members took time to honor members who have gone above and beyond, as well as education allies, during the 2026 IEA Awards. IEA took this moment to honor President Layne McInelly, who is ending his term after six years in office, with the Shane Anderson Outstanding Member Award.  

• Children’s Fund: Once again, IEA members raised an astounding amount of money for the IEA Children’s Fund through donations and a lively silent auction. Over $26,000 will be added to the fund, which offers grants so families in need can provide items like shoes, backpacks and glasses to Idaho’s school children.  

• Keynote speaker: Bill Farmer, an NEA Executive Committee member and high school science educator from Illinois, gave the 2026 Delegate Assembly keynote speech. Gov. Brad Little may have signed House Bill 516, he said, but nothing can get in the way of IEA members. 

• “No piece of legislation can erase your purpose, your professionalism, and your deep commitment to your students,” he said from the podium. “No governor’s signature can undo the truth that public education is strongest when educators are organized, respected and united, and no attack on unions can stop the belief that brought you into the profession in the first place — the belief that every student deserves opportunity, dignity, and a future worth fighting for.” 

• Summer Institute: Registration for IEA’s annual Summer Institute, hosted by the Center for Teaching and Learning, kicked off at Delegate Assembly — and the first wave of members have already secured their seats. Summer Institute is a four-day professional development event held at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, and every session is designed by educators, for educators. It’s free for members, including lodging and meals. 

• PACE: Members donated $5,600 to the Political Action Committee for Education (PACE) — many of those contributions in the form of monthly donations that will sustain efforts to re-establish a pro-public education majority in the Idaho Legislature. 

• May Matters: NEA Director Lindsey Smith of the Lewiston Education Association shared the urgency of May Matters, the union’s campaign to elect public education supporters during the May 19 primary, with an in-depth presentation. The final push for the campaign is here — voters have until May 8 to request an absentee ballot.