Pre-kindergarten enrollees scrutinized

The Senate Education Committee is examining whether Idaho school districts are violating state law by offering pre-kindergarten classes to children under 5.

Children with disabilities may attend pre-kindergarten classes, but Idaho law prohibits state money being spent to allow children under 5 to use public school facilities.

Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, said he and Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, were surprised to hear this week from Chief Deputy Superintendent Jana Jones that some schools in Idaho have children younger than 5 in pre-kindergarten classes.

“We’re going to hold their feet to the fire,” said Jorgenson, committee vice chairman.

Goedde, the chairman, sent a letter to the attorney general’s office asking whether the Department of Education has the authority to enforce law.

Allison Westfall, spokeswoman for the Department of Education, said federal law requires that disabled students have exposure to peers without disabilities, and some schools comply with that law by allowing non-disabled children under 5 to enroll in their programs if their families pay a fee.

“There are no state dollars going to that,” Westfall said.

– Meghann M. Cuniff

BOISE

Human trafficking bill gets Senate panel OK

Anti-human trafficking legislation made it through a Senate committee on a unanimous vote Friday.

HB 536 defines human trafficking, sets a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison for anyone found guilty of human trafficking who also is found guilty of other serious crimes, and calls for those convicted to pay restitution to the victim and pay for his or her rehabilitation.

“I’m often asked ‘Is there really trafficking in Idaho?’ ” said Rep. Donna Boe, D-Pocatello. “Yes, there is.”

Boe sponsored the bill with Rep. Debbie Field, R-Boise.

Sen. Mike Burkett, D-Boise, voted for the bill but questioned why it didn’t make human trafficking by itself a crime.

“It seems like it should be a crime that can stand on its own two feet,” he said.

– Meghann M. Cuniff

Medical center executive resigns

The man who helped guide Shoshone Medical Center through a dramatic financial turnaround and construction of a new hospital has resigned to take a position with the firm’s parent group.

Chief Executive Officer Gary Moore announced his resignation this week at a meeting of the Kellogg hospital’s board of directors. Moore, with the hospital since 1999, said it would be hard to leave.

“We had a remarkable journey,” said Moore, 57, who helped guide the hospital from the brink of closure. “It has meant so much for this valley.”

Moore has accepted a position as associate regional vice president with QHR, the Texas-based parent company that consults with the 25-bed medical center and some 200 other hospitals.

With QHR’s help, including access to an $18 million loan package to build a new hospital, Shoshone Medical Center rebuilt an accounting system that was borrowing to meet payroll, according to industry documents.

Moore’s resignation is effective April 3. Jerry Brantz, 41, the hospital’s chief financial officer, will serve as interim administrator, with the opportunity to move into the CEO post after three months, Moore said.

– JoNel Aleccia