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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Ed Task Force Brings Show To Town

Twenty-four people testified to the Task Force for Improving Education tonight in Coeur d’Alene, as the governor’s education stakeholder task force held its fourth public forum and its best-attended one yet. “It’s good to see a packed house,” said Richard Westerberg, task force chairman and state Board of Education member. Seven of the 31 task force members attended. By my count, among the 24 who testified over the course of the two-hour forum at North Idaho College, there were some overriding themes: Seven pleaded for more state funding and less reliance on local property tax override levies; six called for less emphasis on test scores and standardized testing in Idaho’s schools (said one grandmother of four, “We’re driving our kids crazy”); and five called for increased teacher pay/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.

Also:

Question: After watching our Legislature and Gov. Otter trash public education for the past two sessions with their unabashed support of Luna Laws and lower education funding, I have zero faith in this task force process. I consider it a show, nothing more. Am I being too cynical?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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