‘A very troubling area…’

JFAC members quizzed Idaho Department of Administration officials so long about the Idaho Education Network this morning that they ran over time, and almost had to skip the Capitol Commission’s budget hearing. Among the questions was this one from Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert: “What role did IEN or the agency, Mr. Gwartney or the Department of Administration, play in the recommendations to reduce the Idaho Digital Learning Academy and Idaho Public Television? That’s a rumor that’s out there that I’d like you to follow up on,” Cameron said, indicating that Admin officials could get back to him later. “The second half of that rumor is that the governor asked IEN to deliver his State of the State message to four schools, and IEN was unable to do so, but Public Television then did so. Can you get back to us with those answers?” At that, Co-Chair Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, said, “Thank you, and we would all appreciate that information. … We’re running way past, but this is a very troubling area of the budget.”