Kevin’s blog

The Idaho Farm Bureau and a key senator want to tighten Idaho’s initiative and referendum process. Democrats say the bill would make it more difficult for voters to throw out laws — as they did last November.

Voting along party lines, the Senate Education Committee endorsed a plan that would, once again, eliminate an early retirement plan for teachers.

The news comes as Idaho lawmakers are likely to once again debate charter school funding issues.

State superintendent Tom Luna wants Idaho to keep pushing to hire more math and science teachers. Critics say the plan gets out ahead of Gov. Butch Otter’s education reform task force.

An independent audit on teacher workplace issues was a mixed bag. But one sentence, suggesting an “undercurrent of despair” in the teaching profession, has taken on a life of its own.

Yes, it’s that time of year. There are a lot of moving parts at the Legislature — and lots of other news on the horizon. Can’t keep tabs on it all? We have you covered.

A bill to repeal the personal property tax may finally surface in the next few days. How will the details affect school districts?

The conventional wisdom holds that higher education in Idaho remains a bargain. Does the theory hold up? A new website allows students and parents to judge for themselves.

How should Idaho spend the $33.9 million that has been earmarked for education reform? Very cautiously, say members of the Senate Education Committee.