Senate Ed passes financial emergency bill for schools
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bill brought by the Idaho teachers union that lowers the bar for school districts to declare a financial emergency is on its way to the Senate floor. On Thursday the Senate Education Committee approved the measure. It aims to make reopening teacher salary negotiations during tough budget years easier for cash-strapped schools. Current law requires school boards to show a 5 percent reduction in general funds or property tax revenue to qualify their economic condition as a fiscal emergency. The bill sponsored by the Idaho Education Association teachers union would lower that threshold to 1.5 percent. IEA Executive Director Robin Nettinga said the proposal would give more districts financial flexibility while protecting teachers' collective bargaining rights.
