Kevin’s blog

K-12 interim committee: a live blog

The K-12 interim committee got down to business Thursday. Here’s a running blog from the meeting.

Where WiFi moves a little slower …

Most school districts participating in the state’s WiFi project want their service, well, yesterday. But one high school is the exception to the rule.

Meridian OKs levy to cover enrollment increase

With enrollment increasing by more than 600, property tax bills in the Meridian School District are also on the way up. The school board approved an emergency levy Tuesday night.

Luna admits to Students Come First missteps

The superintendent of public instruction tells the Idaho Statesman editorial board that he could have handled the 2011 rollout differently. Readers and commenters responded skeptically.

Divided Caldwell board stays with ISBA

Several teachers urged the Caldwell School Board to sever its ties with the Idaho School Boards Association — which supported the failed Proposition 1 collective bargaining law, and, in 2013 several new laws to restore elements of Prop 1.

Durst splitting time between Idaho, Washington

Sen. Branden Durst, D-Boise, has been living part-time in Washington state, where his wife is teaching. Durst says he will attend Thursday’s meeting of a legislative interim committee assigned to study K-12 education issues.

WiFi contractor agrees to restructure deal

Under the restructuring, Education Networks of America will be paid based on the number of schools signing up for the WiFi project. This could reduce — but probably won’t eliminate — the price gap between ENA and the contract’s low bidder.

Fusing technology pilots with Common Core

Kuna Middle School is among 11 Idaho schools facing a unique challenge — testing out technology pilot projects while rolling out new Common Core standards. How will they juggle the two?

Economist: Lands transfer doesn’t pencil out

If states such as Idaho were ever to wrest away control of federal lands, they would also be saddled with the high, and rising, costs of firefighting, a Bozeman, Mont.-based economist said in Boise Thursday.