Kevin’s blog
Expert analysis and the latest news from award-winning journalist Kevin Richert.
Boise trustee election starts heating up
Travis Jones labels former Rep. Brian Cronin as a candidate “who represents the status quo.” The two will square off in a Sept. 2 election.
Video: Talking State Board appointments
This week’s “Making the Grade” segment is all about the State Board of Education appointments, and the curious State Board of Education paper trail.
Those destroyed State Board applications …
Gov. Butch Otter’s office destroyed at least 15 applications for vacancies on the State Board of Education. Here’s what the state law says, and doesn’t say, on records retention.
One more year: NCLB waiver extended
Idaho’s 2-year-old No Child Left Behind waiver will remain in place through 2014-15. But some changes are afoot — including beefed-up reports on college “go-on” rates.
Could guns-on-campus law expand?
Another round of legislation could even extend to the K-12 system, one college president said last week. But according to one key senator, no changes are in the offing at this point.
Video: Talking WiFI and lottery money
In this week’s “Making the Grade” segment, Kevin Richert talks with Michelle Edmonds of KIVI and KNIN about a couple of dollars-and-cents school topics.
Data security debate shifts to states
In addition to Idaho, at least a half a dozen states have passed student data security laws since 2013.
State endowment logs a big increase
However, the 18.8 percent return on investments may lead to only a small increase in payments to public schools.
State could tighten contract rules
The proposed rule changes — which could come before the 2015 Legislature — come in the wake of controversies over school broadband and WiFi contracts.
The changing face of Statehouse coverage
A Pew Research Center report looks at this changing media landscape — and the role of “nontraditional” news outlets such as Idaho Education News.