Testimony: ‘We’ve won race to bottom’

Terry Soule, a parent and teacher from Caldwell, told lawmakers, “We are already an extremely cost-effective state. We’ve won that race to the bottom. But our teachers are performing well for the students in the classroom.” He said, “We need to find the money and invest in the future for this state.”

Jennifer Swindell, spokeswoman for the Caldwell school district, said, “In Caldwell we’re on a road of continuous improvement, and there’s one thing we just can’t take, and that’s more cuts in education funding.” She said, “We support Supt. Luna’s plan to reform education.” Swindell said the district is “very willing to sit at the table” to turn Idaho’s current funding constraints into solutions.

Emma Roemhildt, speaking for Idahoans for Choice in Education, said she’s a recent graduate of a high school in rural Alaska where students in some classes, including her younger brother’s - but not hers - were issued laptop computers. She said she was her class valedictorian, but lacked computer skills when she headed to college at Northwest Nazarene University, and wished she had more. “Those who are technologically illiterate are falling farther and farther behind,” she said.

John Gannon, a former state lawmaker, told lawmakers, “I would like to suggest to you today that whatever you do, give as much flexibility as possible to our local school districts. These proposed changes usurp that historical role of the local school board.”