Moderator Jim Weatherby is welcoming the crowd to the City Club of Boise, but said that first, as a professor, he wanted to lecture the crowd: "One of City Club's highest values is promoting civility," Weatherby declared. Therefore, he asked the crowd not to applaud, cheer, or express approval or disapproval. He noted that he'll be taking written questions from the audience to pose for the speakers as part of the program, Tom Luna and Brian Cronin.

Weatherby noted that Idaho has only had four other referenda on its ballot in its history; the school reform laws have prompted three referenda on the November ballot this year.