House OKs Teacher Evaluations 34-32

A narrowly divided House voted 34-32 in favor of HB 556 , legislation from Rep. Steven Harris, R-Boise, to require parent and student input in teacher evaluations – a bill that was opposed by all three major education stakeholder groups in Idaho, and a departure from the governor’s education improvement task force recommendations. “I think we’ve been down this path before, when we assumed we know better than the professionals in education,” House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, told the House. “It didn’t end well last time”/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here.

• For: Barbieri, Henderson, Mendive, Sims
• Against : Eskridge, Malek, Morse
• Absent: Anderson, McMillan

Other Eye on Boise posts today:

• FBI takes over CCA investigation
• Luna: JFAC’s WiFi decision ‘good news’
• Bill would let state prisons contract inmates out
• Strong state revenues beat forecasts for month
• Rev & Tax backs bill to end indexing of homeowners exemption
• Senate backs changing Constitution to let Speaker, pro tem override vetoes