Idaho Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, right, reassures Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, center, after a somber and contentious budget-setting session for public schools on Wednesday. At left is Paul Headlee, legislative budget analyst for public schools. (Betsy Russell/SR)

Idaho lawmakers set a public schools budget Wednesday with minor changes to the proposed plan with a $128 million, 7.5 percent spending reduction released last week. Salaries for teachers and other school staff would be reduced, as would money for bus transportation and some statewide education programs. The budget approved by lawmakers on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) would zero out funding for some spending programs, including textbooks, classroom supplies, and technology upgrades, and give that money to local school districts to spend at their discretion/Brad Iverson-Long, Idaho Reporter. More here.

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