Final divisions approved, public school budget set in JFAC

In the final two divisions of the public school budget, the facilities division and educational services for the deaf and blind, the Democratic and Republican budget plans were identical; both passed on unanimous votes after being proposed by Democratic JFAC members. The deaf and blind budget includes money to replace a $65,000 school bus with a wheelchair lift.

Overall, the Democratic proposal was for $8.4 million more than the GOP proposal, which calls for a 4.6 percent increase in state general funds for schools next year after this year’s 4 percent cut. Total funds would be up just 0.4 from this year. JFAC next looked at “intent language” that accompanies the budget; that includes the minimum teacher salary boost that GOP lawmakers are backing, to move starting teachers from $30,000 a year to $30,500 a year.

Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, said earlier, “I think it’s important to understand the difference between unfreezing the grid and increasing the minimum salary. The minimum salary only affects those new teachers. But unfreezing the grid is something really important we have to do to retain some of our good teachers who frankly are leaving the profession in droves right now.” However, after the Democrats’ motions for the grid change failed on party-line votes, the Dems didn’t object to the intent language as-is, which reflects the budget figures the joint committee already has approved.