Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, plans to introduce legislation early next week to "nullify" the federal health care reform law, a move that's drawing favor among tea party adherents who believe the federal government is out of control. Gov. Butch Otter also raised the idea…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Lottery officials say a 29-year-old northern Idaho woman has decided to collect her half of a $380 million Mega Millions jackpot in a lump sum payment. The Idaho Lottery announced Friday that Holly…
Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, the JFAC co-chair who ran today's unprecedented, four-hour public hearing on school funding, deemed it "extremely successful." She said, "When people will travel and sit quietly and wait a turn that may never come..." She said there were only roughly three…
Sherri Wood, president of the Idaho Education Association, said the message she took from today's four-hour public hearing on school funding was, "They are not supportive of this plan - even the people that kind of lean to support had a lot of questions." She…
After traveling 400 miles from Post Falls to testify at today's public school funding hearing, Matt Barkley, a school band director, said the trip was worth it. "I was a little nervous with the large crowds here," he said. "I came down at 6 in…
"You've been a very gracious and a very patient audience," Rep. Maxine Bell said as today's unprecedented public hearing on school funding concluded - at noon, after four full hours. Overall, nearly 80 people testified. By my count, only 14 spoke in favor of state…
Lawmakers called up two children from Kuna who attend the Idaho Virtual Academy, an online charter school, and spoke in favor of online education. Fifth grader Wyatt Bell said he's been learning online since kindergarten, and because his dad is off on Wednesdays, he can…
Among the final speakers, Todd Wells of the Castleford school district spoke in support of the Luna reform plan; teacher Darin Gonzalez of Kimberly said there's lots of technology in use in his school now; a mom from Idaho Falls, Rebecca Bohman, spoke in favor…
Rep. Maxine Bell told the crowd, "We have just listened to 60 of you, and you've been so gracious in allowing us to chop you off. ... There are about 133 of you who signed up." At this point, she said, she's going to jump…
Terry Soule, a parent and teacher from Caldwell, told lawmakers, "We are already an extremely cost-effective state. We've won that race to the bottom. But our teachers are performing well for the students in the classroom." He said, "We need to find the money and…
Lynnette Aldridge of Oldtown, a mother of four including a child with developmental delays, said, "Providing all our students with online learning sounds great on paper, but my children will fall through the cracks - they will not succeed." Her high-school-age daughter tried online classes…
Brian Potter, a teacher and father of two from Potlatch, said his son, a top student, couldn't apply to Dartmouth or Stanford for college because they wouldn't accept online foreign language classes - which is all Potlatch offers. His son even took two online PE…
Pam Danielson of Peck told lawmakers, "Orofino Junior-Senior High does not have the wireless capability nor do we have the electrical capability for multiple laptops." She said when her daughter took an online class through the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, technical problems, including filters that…
Britton Blauer, a teacher and parent from Pocatello, broke down as she told lawmakers she had to take a second job and now works 70 hours a week. "I have less time and energy for my students, and my family deserves more," she said. Her…
Sherri Wood, president of the Idaho Education Association, told lawmakers, "Idaho educators are offended by the idea that we haven't been putting students first all along." She said, "Two weeks ago, Idaho parents and teachers thought the main debate this session would be how to…
Kaitlin Howell, a high school student from Caldwell, said she took three online classes and found them "something completely different from normal teaching." She said "Learning is all self-taught and not very effective. One of the worst things that could be done to the school…
Pat Bollar, a teacher from Rupert, got a warm laugh from the crowd with her closing comment: "Three minutes is the time it takes to soft-boil an egg, not express opinions from a lifetime in teaching." That's all the time people are being allotted to…
Maria Nate, a parent, school volunteer and former school board member from Rexburg, said, "I would call myself an ardent public education supporter. I believe in public education. And that is why I support Tom Luna's forward-thinking plan, Students Come First. The way we do…
Lorna Finman of Post Falls told lawmakers, "I am here today to wholeheartedly support Supt. Tom Luna's plan for students come first in Idaho. ... We need to adapt and increase our level of education quality like never before if we are to adapt." Finman,…
Several people who have testified have called for smart boards and classroom computers to enhance teaching, rather than issuing each high school student a laptop computer. Kerrin Rue, an American Government teacher at Borah High School in Boise, said, "At my school alone, the failure…
Danielle Ahrens, who spoke on behalf of Bonner and Boundary county Republicans and the Bonner County Republican Women, told lawmakers, "I've been PTA president twice and I do understand the value of education. But these are hard times." She said she backs Supt. Luna's reform…
Lauren Peters, a mom from Hansen, broke into tears as she began addressing lawmakers. "Our children lost out," she said. "Art, music ... are entirely gone. ... This year my son will graduate, and for the first time, no band will play Pomp and Circumstance…
Karen Mahoney of Eagle told lawmakers, "I'm here to represent my sons. Mr. Luna's plan is bad for students, bad for teachers and bad business for our state." She said she's been "an art mom, a room mom and a copy mom," and she can't…
Matt Barkley, band director at Post Falls High School, testified, "Budget cuts from last year's session have hit hard in the music community." Some Idaho school districts have lost their entire music programs, he told lawmakers. "I implore you to not pass the education budget…
The first to testify at this morning's public hearing on school funding is former state Rep. Branden Durst, D-Boise. "As an educator and as a parent of four children," he said, "I care deeply about my children's education. ... We have to be competitive as…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
