Students need Jones

In 2006, 543,184 votes were cast for Idaho’s superintendent of public instruction. Tom Luna received 11,158 more votes than Jana Jones. We elected the wrong person. The future of Idaho is in the education of its youth and there are problems in Idaho’s educational system.

Appropriate state funding for education needs to happen. While Idaho increased its prison budget from 2003 to 2013 by 47 percent, its educational budget increased only 8 percent. Idaho is at or near the bottom in state spending per pupil, and we lack programs that make a difference like early start for pre-kindergarten kids. Idaho had 16 schools on four-day school weeks in 2008; now there are 48. How can students going to school four days a week have the educational advantages of those going five days a week?

Currently, only 34 percent of Idaho’s 25- to 35-year-olds have post-secondary learning; but by the end of the decade six out of every 10 jobs will require some form of post-secondary education. Currently only four out of 10 Idaho high school graduates go on to college, and only one will graduate in six years.

Idaho needs educational leadership. Idaho needs Jana Jones.

Ken Meyers

Sagle, Idaho