Ybarra on school budget: ‘This is such important work,’ teachers doing a ‘bang-up job’

Overall, state school Superintendent Sherri Ybarra told JFAC this morning, she’s requesting more than $1.679 billion in state general funds for Idaho’s public schools next year (not counting services for the deaf and blind, which will be presented next). Her request reflects an increase of more than $104.7 million, which is up 6.6 percent over this year.

“This is such important work, and I believe that we have created a budget which truly supports innovation, creativity, and flexibility,” Ybarra told lawmakers. “As you heard proof today, educators throughout the state are doing a bang-up job of getting the greatest value for our dollar.”

As JFAC members began their questions for Ybarra on the request, Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, told her, “Thank you for this very detailed presentation.” It’s a marked change from Ybarra’s first budget presentation, when she made only brief remarks that left lawmakers with nothing but questions.