Debate: ‘Don’t see the negative,’ ‘We have a budget problem,’ ‘Nothing on the books’

Rep. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, told the House that other states have removed collective bargaining rights from teachers, and he said Idaho faces a budget crisis and schools are the biggest single part of the state’s budget. Current laws could force raises for tenured teachers, he said, at a time when state agency budgets are being deeply cut. “We’re talking about balancing our priorities and allowing flexibility,” Bayer said. “I don’t see a lot of the negative implications and concerns that have been pointed out.”

Rep. JoAn Wood, R-Rigby, debating in favor of SB 1108, said, “We certainly do have our differences of opinion here. … What we do know is we have a budget problem.” She said lawmakers like her support paying teachers adequately, whether they’re in public schools, charter schools or private schools. “Why is being concerned for our children’s future an attack on teachers?” she asked. Wood said “Joe Public” isn’t making enough to get by. “I don’t need my taxes raised,” she said. She said a vote for the bill is “an optimistic look at the future of education for our precious children.”

Rep. John VanderWoude, R-Nampa, said he’s served on the board of a private school, and without any tenure, teachers stay there a long time. “Lack of tenure does not threaten teachers,” he said. “It’s not a threat to a good teacher but it’s a good policy to have.”

Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, debating for the second time, said, “There’s nothing on the books in our education code that provides tenure for education teachers K-12. Tenure means you hold your position on a permanent basis without periodic contract renewals. Our K-12 teachers have continuing contracts. They are evaluated yearly, and if the evaluation is not satisfactory they can be put on probation or removed.”