Idaho public education relatively fared well during Nov. 5’s general election — despite the resounding defeat of Proposition 1, the open primaries initiative.
Twenty-five of 30 bond and levy measures put forward by school districts across the state were approved by voters on Tuesday. Also, 28 legislative candidates endorsed by Idaho Education Association members for their pro-public education policy perspectives won their races.
“While national politics captured the most attention this week, pro-public education candidates and measures in Idaho saw modest success at the polls,” said IEA President Layne McInelly. “IEA members can be proud of the work their union put into electing a slate of candidates who value and will fight for what’s best for students, educators and public schools.”
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The rate of passage for the bond and levy measures on local ballots was particularly attention-grabbing. In all, districts asked for nearly $260 million in funding from local taxpayers. The measures approved will pay for everything from facilities to buses to salaries. IEA members encouraged voters to approve all of the 25 measures.
“These results show that Idahoans placed a high value on their local public schools, despite how the need for these bond and levy measures at all highlights Idaho’s chronic underfunding of public education,” McInelly said in an email to IEA members on Thursday.
With one exception, all of the rejected bond or levy measures were in North Idaho. Those included troubled West Bonner School District’s one-year, $1.1 million supplemental levy for new buses, extra and co-curricular activities, child nutrition, a school resource officer, curriculum materials, two part-time staff positions, technology and snow removal.
In legislative races, IEA lost a handful of allies to challengers, including Sen. Rick Just (D-Boise), Rep. Ned Burns (D-Pocatello), Rep. Nate Roberts (D-Pocatello), while key IEA ally wins included vice chair of the House Education Committee Rep. Lori McCann (R-Lewiston) and the re-election of former-Sen. Kevin Cook (R-Idaho Falls).
McInelly said that while the makeup of the Legislature clearly shifted, the real impact of this election on statewide education policy is still unclear. That picture may come into better focus in early December, after the Legislature’s “organizational session,” when committee assignments are made.
One harsh blow from Tuesday was the defeat of Proposition 1, which would have opened party primary elections to all voters and instituted rank choice voting in the state. The IEA Board of Directors endorsed the measure, which was defeated by a wide margin.
“Yes, the defeat of Proposition 1 was deeply unfortunate,” said McInelly in his email to IEA members. “Its potential for shifting the dynamic of Idaho party politics away from the extreme was real, which is why the IEA Board of Directors endorsed its passage. Thank you to all of you who volunteered your time to knock on doors and work the phones, or otherwise contribute to the cause."
