Batt Moves Ahead On Charter Schools

Gov. Phil Batt signed a bill Thursday that will allow the creation of charter schools.

“We need to innovate any way we can to improve our school system,” Batt said.

Sen. Jack Riggs, R-Coeur d’ Alene, and Rep. Wayne Meyer, R-Rathdrum, helped mold the legislation and push it to the governor’s desk.

The law will allow up to 12 charter public schools in the state starting in July.

Riggs said he was unaware of any North Idaho teachers, parents or students with plans to start a charter school. He added that the task won’t be easy.

“If someone is interested they should get going,” Riggs said. But Riggs isn’t concerned if nobody immediately volunteers to start up a charter school. He said the new law just gives people another option to improve the education of Idaho’s children.

Sen. Darrel Deide, R-Caldwell, said charter schools will create competition in the public school system, which will improve all of Idaho’s schools.

“This is a historic moment,” Deide said. “This may serve as a catalyst to fix all Idaho public schools.” , DataTimes