News

The latest and breaking news and investigative reports about Idaho public education.

Luna tweaks education budget

Schools chief Tom Luna now calls for 1 percent salary increase for educators — and more money to reverse recession-era budget cuts.

Common Core forum packs Statehouse

The meeting gave lawmakers and the public a chance to weigh the pros and cons of the new academic standards in English and math, but was unlikely to settle some lingering differences.

Gooding superintendent resigns

Heather Williams explains why she stepped down. Also inside is a link to a Times-News (Twin Falls newspaper) article that details recent turmoil in the district involving a lawsuit, investigation and resignation of a principal.

Grangeville teacher joins superintendent’s race

John Eynon says the Idaho Core Standards are part of the “Democrat Party platform.”

An alternative budget blueprint for K-12

The state has ample money to boost teacher pay and reverse K-12 cuts from the Great Recession, a retired state economists and a quartet of education advocates said Monday.

Will school districts keep budget flexibility?

Districts have some say over how many teachers they hire — and the on-the-ground results vary widely,

Paper: Reported bias leads to resignation

A Thursday article in the Twin Falls Times-News details a lawsuit, investigation and the Jan. 14 resignation of a principal in Gooding. Superintendent Heather Williams resigned on Jan. 16, but says the turmoil is unrelated to her decision.

How yellow is this yellow school bus?

It’s “national school bus glossy yellow, federal standard 595a, color number 13432.” But this federal language doesn’t appear in Idaho code. Not yet, anyway.

In Pocatello, a Facebook about-face

Laraine Cook was fired in October over a photo posted on her Facebook page. On Tuesday night, the School Board voted unanimously to offer Cook her job back.

JFAC takes step on employee raises

On Friday, budget-writers didn’t discuss a related topic: boosting teacher pay. Gov. Butch Otter recommends a pay freeze for state employees and teachers.