Teacher benefits
Threatened, bullied, blindsided: District leaders speak out on benefit trust’s ‘systemic silence’
A group of superintendents claim the Idaho School Benefit Trust intentionally withheld information until after districts renewed for another year. They’ve reached out to the governor.
Higher Education
TVCC opens health profession facility
Medical education
Idaho State lab expansion project to begin this fall
Contract negotiations
Blaine County imposes contract terms after deadlock with teachers’ union
Idaho Digital Learning Alliance
Cuts to successful reading program leave schools struggling to find a replacement
Higher education politics
Boise State, U of I receive lackluster grades for campus free speech
School Board Business
Lakeland paid nearly $160k to end superintendent’s tenure
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We regularly file public records requests, ask tough questions and follow the paper trail. Under Watch documents the challenges we encounter along the way — including unanswered requests, missing documents and denied or redacted records that deserve public scrutiny.
The EdNews Show Ep. 4: State superintendent debate pregame
Republican incumbent Debbie Critchfield and Democrat challenger Becky Sundin Mitchell will face off in a debate next week in the race for Idaho superintendent of public instruction.
Special Series
The Idaho School Benefit Trust ran out of money in 2026 — leaving nearly 100 districts and charters to confront a health insurance crisis that had been building for years.
The trust’s fund balance fell from $22.5 million in 2021 to $2.1 million in just four years. Manager Debbie Hainke notified members of a shortfall in July but has declined to provide members or EdNews with financial documents.
EdNews has tracked the trust’s unraveling through public records, interviews and reporting. Our continuing coverage will investigate the ultimate cost to teachers and taxpayers.
Opinion
Spelling it Out
This series aims to break down complex terms, ideas, and jargon in education and become a resource for taxpayers, educators, parents, and students.