The Idaho Education Association has issued a statement that there is “more than enough money” to avoid proposed cuts in public schools next year, between federal economic stimulus funds and state budget reserves. “Idaho is eligible to receive more than $300 million for K-12 public schools from the stimulus package. We also have two rainy day funds totaling more than $250 million that could offset budget shortfalls,” IEA President Sherri Wood said. “Investing in our children and their education is the best way of guaranteeing a stable economy for our state and for our country. … It is imperative that we explore every avenue possible to find the financial resources needed to provide our students a quality education.”

The statewide teachers union called for making use of the Public Education Stabilization Fund, which contains $114 million; stimulus funds; and $67.3 million from the state’s general budget stabilization fund – 47.9 percent of what’s in that fund, because public schools comprise 47.9 percent of the overall state budget. Yesterday, state schools Supt. Tom Luna called for holding onto the $114 million reserve fund to cover any future budget shortfalls, and said he thinks the stimulus money isn’t enough to avoid up to $62 million in cuts he’s proposed for public schools next year. Here’s a link to my full story in today’s Spokesman-Review.

 

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