IEA: School cuts not needed

The Idaho Education Association has issued a statement that there is “more than enough money” to avoid proposed cuts in public schools next year, between federal economic stimulus funds and state budget reserves. “ Idaho is eligible to receive more than $300 million for K-12 public schools from the stimulus package. We also have two rainy day funds totaling more than $250 million that could offset budget shortfalls,” IEA President Sherri Wood said. “Investing in our children and their education is the best way of guaranteeing a stable economy for our state and for our country. … It is imperative that we explore every avenue possible to find the financial resources needed to provide our students a quality education.”

The statewide teachers union called for making use of the Public Education Stabilization Fund, which contains $114 million; stimulus funds; and $67.3 million from the state’s general budget stabilization fund – 47.9 percent of what’s in that fund, because public schools comprise 47.9 percent of the overall state budget. Yesterday, state schools Supt. Tom Luna called for holding onto the $114 million reserve fund to cover any future budget shortfalls, and said he thinks the stimulus money isn’t enough to avoid up to $62 million in cuts he’s proposed for public schools next year. Here’s a link to my full story in today’s Spokesman-Review.