Sen. Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls, debating in favor of SB 1108, told the Senate, "This bill returns control to the school boards, invests them with proper authority they should have as elected officials of their school district. This bill prevents past boards from binding future boards with debts and obligations. This bill ensures that elected officials are held accountable for their actions and not the actions of prior boards."

He said, "Our school boards, our local elected officials, are in a very difficult position." He touted provisions of the bill allowing school boards to keep the "best" teachers, "not the most senior." He said it allows local elected officials to "put the needs of students first."

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