Kevin’s blog
Expert analysis and the latest news from award-winning journalist Kevin Richert.
Nonini campaigns in School Board races
It is a little like deja vu all over again. State Sen. Bob Nonini, no stranger to weighing in during election season, signed a campaign letter last week endorsing two Post Falls School Board candidates.
A Middleton School Board election do-over
Twenty-three Middleton voters were given the wrong ballots Tuesday — and were allowed to vote in what turned out to be a deadlocked School Board race. Canyon County will have to hold the election again.
Meridian plans 2014 school bond issue
During the Treasure Valley’s housing and population boom, bond issues were almost a routine event in Meridian. Next spring, the state’s largest district could run a bond issue for the first time in nine years.
Endowment watch: State assets reach record
With a record $1.46 billion in assets, payments to state endowment beneficiaries should increase by at least $1.2 million in 2013-14. And public schools would be likely to see most of this increase.
Another Boise principal on the move
Rick Bollman is moving from Cynthia Mann Elementary School to Maple Grove Elementary School — bringing to nine the number of Boise schools that will have new leaders in 2013-14.
Indiana pauses Common Core. Now what?
Indiana has opted to put Common Core State Standards on hold — throwing the state’s school system into turmoil. The takeaway point: repealing or delaying the standards is a murky, messy proposition.
Nampa candidates differ over shakeup (UPDATED)
Seven candidates are vying for three seats on the Nampa School Board — and Thursday night, they disagreed over the shakeup in the superintendent’s office.
Kuna superintendent takes Oregon post (UPDATED)
For eight years, Jay Hummel has led one of Idaho’s fastest-growing school districts. And he says Oregon’s stable commitment to K-12 education was a factor in his decision to take a superintendent’s job there.
A big surplus could await ’14 Legislature
According to the conventional wisdom, the toughest legislative sessions occur when lawmakers can fight over extra money. If true, the 2014 legislative session could be a complicated one.
A closer look at Nampa’s latest shakeup
Thomas Michaelson resigned abruptly Tuesday night — after a turbulent six months at the helm at the Nampa School District, and after the school board took no action on one of his big budget-cutting proposals.