Cameron: ‘It’s competely unnecessary’

The first three people to debate all are speaking against SB 1184, the school reform bill. Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, told the Senate that her concerns about SB 1184 include that the bill gives too much power to the state superintendent of schools, who would play key roles in determining how the technology initiative takes shape.

Sen. Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, said, “For me there’s a lot to like in this bill.” He said he likes investing in technology, for example. But he said he objects to “taking money from salary-based apportionment … statutorily demanding reduction in the pool of money we use to pay our teachers.”
He said, “My fear is that school districts will have little choice with less money for teacher salaries but to increase classroom size. I have not and I do not support that as a funding mechanism.” He also said he has a separation-of-powers concern about the bill, because it “gives away too much spending authority in a difficult economic time” to the executive branch. “My worry is that this bill would make future needed adjustments far too difficult.”

Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said he has “nine reasons why I am compelled to vote against this bill.His reason No. 1: ‘It’s completely unnecessary.” Cameron said the bill won’t solve the current funding problem for schools. “It doesn’t generate one additional dollar for public schools. In many cases it’s simply taking money out of your left pocket and putting it in your right pocket, and pretending it generates more money.” He said JFAC has identified the $13 million state schools Supt. Tom Luna wants for technology, without the bill. “This bill is not necessary to advance technology,” he said.