Department of Education regains staff from board
BOISE – It might seem odd that during these tight times, the state Department of Education is announcing eight new staffers for a new division to oversee all statewide, federally mandated student testing and the GEAR UP program, a program to help low-income students work toward college.
But what’s being added at the department is being cut from the Office of the State Board of Education, so it’s a wash. It’s part of Gov. Butch Otter’s initiative to remove everyday management of K-12 schools from the state board office, and send it back to the department, which is headed by the elected state superintendent of schools.
That’s how it used to work, before the programs were shifted amid political fighting when the state superintendent was a Democrat, and the governor a Republican. (Now, both, including Superintendent Tom Luna, are Republicans.)
Five of the eight staffers in the new unit are moving directly over from the board office. Two are new hires who are taking on positions that had been vacant recently at the board office; the eighth, 2008 Teacher of the Year Carol Scholz, is filling a vacant position at the department for a special education coordinator that’s now being moved into the new unit.
“We had some space for ’em and we squeezed them in, and we’re glad to have ’em,” said department spokeswoman Melissa McGrath.
Back on the horse?
Gov. Butch Otter took a three-day trail ride along the Idaho-Nevada border recently, along with Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons, legislators and federal and state officials. It’s an annual tradition for Otter, who started the rides as a congressman to discuss resource issues and see effects on the land close-up. This year’s ride was in the Three Creek area where, the Twin Falls Times-News reported, “Otter said he brought his own horse, Snuff, a 22-year-old roping quarter horse.”
Otter, of course, was injured in a team-roping accident this past winter, losing a key week of the legislative session for shoulder surgery after he reportedly “zigged and his horse zagged.” He came back with his arm in a sling and endured weeks of physical therapy even as he battled with lawmakers over his legislative agenda. So is he, now, back on the horse that threw him?
It’s an intriguing concept – and one that seems right in character for our cowboy governor. But no, Otter’s winter roping accident came when he was astride Cotton, a 9-year-old gelding quarter horse, according to news reports.
Snuff does, however, have a history. Back in 1988, Snuff was the horse Otter pal Mike Gwartney was riding when he broke his back and suffered other serious injuries that almost killed him. In 2008, recounting the incident to Idaho Statesman columnist Dan Popkey, Otter said, “Snuff is a three-quarter- million-dollar horse. I paid $3,000 for him and Gwartney paid three-quarters of a million for all the medical stuff he went through.”
Clark, eight others honored
Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, is one of nine lawmakers named “Legislator of the Year” this year by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a national conservative group of legislators and business people that promotes “limited government, free markets and federalism.”
Clark, a seven-term lawmaker and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said: “It’s an honor for me to be selected for this award and the fact that it comes from my peers in the American Legislative Exchange Council makes it even more special. I have benefited tremendously by being a part of ALEC and participating in the wide range of discussions on policy issues. I am a better legislator for Idaho and District 3 as a result of my association with this outstanding organization.”
ALEC spokesman Jorge Amselle said Clark is the Idaho state chairman for ALEC, “so he’s taken a really strong leadership position in promoting membership in ALEC and assisting other members to attend our meetings.” The group creates model legislation on various issues; its business members have full votes just like the legislator members.