Teachers Voice Concerns Over School Rules Changes Task Force’s Work Proposes 378 Rules, Down From 1,500

Idaho education officials held the first in a statewide series of hearings on changes to public school rules on Wednesday, and ran into immediate complaints from classroom teachers and nurses.

The task force that prepared the rules plans seven hearings around Idaho before submitting what everyone calls significant rule changes to the Legislature for approval.

The rules consolidate more than 1,500 school regulations to 378. Boise junior high school teacher Steve Smylie said the changes might go too far.

“I’m worried about the tone I see in them,” he told task force members.

“We should not be changing for the sake of changing.”

He also objected to allowing schools to use “private sector experts” to teach without requiring them to go through the teacher certification process.

“Districts will use it to hire unqualified people,” he said. “It will only lead to a decline in the quality of education for our young people.”

Monica Beaudoin, president of the Idaho Education Association, said many of the rule changes will be implemented through four manuals and there has been little public attention paid to them.

“There has been no public input into development of the manuals,” she said, and urged the state Board of Education to clarify what authority the manuals will have.

Kirby Nelson, attorney for the board, said it is taking public comment on the manuals and the comment period will remain open until the October board meeting. In any event, Nelson said the manuals are subject to the Administrative Procedures Act and people can comment on them during the statewide hearings on the rules.

Beaudoin also objected to allowing people to teach in public schools without certification.

Beaudoin, a former teacher from Sandpoint, said, “To teach and teach successfully requires immense preparation.” She said classroom teachers should be held to higher, not lower standards.

The rule changes also eliminate specific requirements on classroom size, with only philosophical statements on the desirability of small classes.

“Classroom teachers desperately want the caps on classroom size to be kept in the rules,” Beaudoin said.

More than 100 people attended the Boise hearing. Keith Hinckley, former Board of Education member and chairman of the task force that prepared the rules, said the task force needs feedback before the rules can be finalized.

Other witnesses urged retention of requirements for health and physical education. The proposed rules eliminate those courses from core requirements.

“I think business people would agree that healthy people make a good work force,” said Khristie Bair, an Eagle teacher and aerobics instructor. “Healthy students achieve and produce more academically.”

Bob Fontaine, superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Idaho, objected to a rule change that would require public school districts to compute the cost of transporting “non-students” such as parochial students, on school buses.

Such a rule would “significantly impact” parochial schools, Fontaine said, if changed from the current rule that allows a public school district to transport parochial students if it does not result in additional cost.

Fontaine said one Catholic school in Moscow faces transportation costs of more than $10,000 compared to a current bill of under $3,000.

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1. HEARINGS In North Idaho, the 4-8 p.m. hearings will be held Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Coeur d’Alene Inn in Coeur d’Alene; and Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the Lewiston Parks and Recreation Community Center.

2. WHAT THE TALK IS ALL ABOUT Here are some highlights of the state Board of Education’s proposed new public school rules: EXIT STANDARDS All local school districts will develop kindergarten through 12th-grade minimum academic standards for the district, under direction of the state Board of Education. Students must meet standards to receive credit for each course. CORE REQUIREMENTS Two semesters of math and or science or a combination of both added to high school requirements. One semester of social studies added, with a requirement that geography be taught in each social studies course. Requirement for two semesters of high school physical education eliminated, along with two semesters of health, four semesters of humanities and one semester of reading in the content area. STUDENT EDUCATION PLAN - An education plan must be developed for every student by the eighth grade and continuing through grade 12. The student, a counselor and parents would work on the plan, in which the student would be asked to consider how his or her school plans relate to career interests. PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERTS - People with unique qualifications and experience can teach in public schools, even if they don’t meet regular teacher certification requirements. But after three years, they have to start meeting teacher requirements. ACCREDITATION - Districts will have more flexibility in meeting accreditation standards. They can use Idaho Elementary/Secondary accreditation standards, Northwest Accreditation standards, Idaho School Accreditation school improvement plans or an alternative plan submitted by the local district and approved by the state Board of Education.