Senate passes school reform bill

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, debates against SB 1184, the school reform bill, in the Senate on Thursday. She asked, “If teachers are laid off to buy laptops, which is what this bill does, who will be in the classroom with them?”

BOISE - The Idaho Senate has voted 20-15 in favor SB 1184, the third bill in state schools Supt. Tom Luna’s “Students Come First” school reform package.

The seven Senate Democrats were joined in opposing the bill by eight Republicans, Sens. Andreason, Broadsword, Cameron, Corder, Darrington, Davis, Keough, and Stegner; the bill now moves to the House, where it’s virtually assured of passage.

“This is landmark legislation,” Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, told the Senate as he opened debate; he’s the bill’s lead legislative sponsor. “SB 1184 sets the new normal in public education funds. It is a policy bill.” He said, “We wish we were working under different circumstances. … We have to do things differently, and we do not have more money right now.” So, he said, the state must spend its existing school funds differently. “We must adapt or we risk becoming irrelevant.” Betsy Russell, SR More here.

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