State Board To Study Longer School Day

High school students could spend an extra hour in school and sales taxes could increase if the Idaho School Board Association gets its way.

Extending the high school day by one hour, and raising the state sales tax to pay for school buildings, are among resolutions to be considered at the association meeting next month in Boise. Those adopted will become the association’s legislative agenda.

Pocatello School Board members discussed the proposals Wednesday night.

“On the surface you look at that and say, ‘Hey, that looks like a good idea,”’ Superintendent David Peck said, about the proposal to extend the school day. “The problem is it zeroes in on high schools.”

Peck prefers extending the school day at all grade levels.

From a practical standpoint, state funding may prevent the changes, Peck said. “The state is struggling to provide for the program we already have.”

Another resolution calls for raising the state sales tax to 5.5 percent.

Peck supports it because the estimated $60 million that would be generated would help school districts pay for buildings and capital improvements.

This means the cost of school bonds, currently paid by property taxes, would be spread more evenly.