The 2022 legislative session winds down and May’s primary elections loom, the Idaho Education Association’s calendar for April is full of events where IEA members — all of you and your colleagues — set the agenda for our collective work to support and advocate for Idaho’s educators.
GR/PACE Meets April 1-2
On April 1-2, IEA members on the government relations committee and the Political Action Committee for Education (PACE) meet at IEA headquarters in Boise.
During the two-day meeting, committee members will consider endorsements for candidates seeking the IEA’s endorsement for seats in the Idaho Legislature and statewide offices, like Governor and Superintendent of Public Instruction, ahead of the May 17 primary elections.
The committee will also discuss updates to new business items for the IEA Delegate Assembly on April 22-23, after actions taken by the lawmakers in during the 2022 legislative session.
Regional Mini-DAs Held April 4-14
IEA members across the state will participate in a series of gatherings — known as Mini-Delegate Assemblies — early in the month to discuss the regional priorities of IEA members ahead of the IEA Delegate Assembly (DA).
Participants will have the opportunity to provide guidance to their region’s delegates to DA on possible new business items, preview the IEA budget and other IEA business in advance of the DA.
Here’s a quick rundown of the Mini-DAs schedule based upon IEA’s regions:
- April 4 — Region 6
- April 5 — Region 9
- April 6 — Region 7
- April 7 — Region 8
- April 9 — Region 3
- April 11 — Region 4
- April 12 — Region 5
- April 13 — Region 2
- April 14 — Region 1
IEA 2022 Delegate Assembly Gathers April 22-23
Hundreds of IEA members will gather for the IEA’s 2022 Annual Meeting and Delegate Assembly (DA) in Boise April 22-23. It will be the first in-person DA since April 2019 in Coeur d’Alene.
This annual business and policy-setting meeting is essential to the IEA’s work to support and advocate for all of Idaho’s educators — elementary and secondary teachers, education support professionals, school administrators, aspiring educators and retired educators. It is the most prominent example of the IEA’s democratic, member-driven ethos as an organization.
“Our Delegate Assembly is the essence of the IEA and its members,” said IEA President Layne McInelly. “Being together again after such a long and trying time for educators will be an invigorating and exciting way to turn the page and look to the future of our profession. I, personally, am very excited to all of our dedicated and hardworking delegates in Boise.”
Delegates are elected through voting by local education associations, and each local conducts balloting independently and with their own timelines and procedures.
In addition to the essential business of the IEA, the Delegate Assembly is the most important fundraiser for the IEA Children’s Fund, which is funded by IEA members and has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to thousands of Idaho students and their families since its inception of 1996. A silent auction benefitting the Children’s Fund will be held through both days of the DA.
“There’s still plenty of time for members, locals and regions to make donation baskets for the silent auction,” said McInelly.
In the past, popular themed gift baskets included gourmet food and drinks (no hard liquor, please), educational items, family gift packs, sports and recreation items, original artwork and paintings, handmade pottery, hand-sewn blankets, gift cards for restaurants, hotels, and travel. CLICK HERE to make a cash donation to the Children’s Fund.