IDAHO

Famed Idaho inventor Forrest Bird dies

A Sandpoint charter school changed its moniker to the Forrest M. Bird Charter School as an effort to make sure Bird was not forgotten in Idaho history.

Girls STEM camp attracts future engineers and vets

The Boise School District’s Girls Powered STEM Camp filled up so quickly that district officials are considering doubling the number of camps next summer.

Teens learn the importance of STEM careers

High school students from across the state were selected to participate in the Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars program.

State Board of Ed approves No Child Left Behind waiver

State Superintendent Sherri Ybarra will not submit the waiver to the U.S. Department of Education for consideration.

Ybarra calls for more accurate teacher evaluations

At the same time Ybarra was pleased that so many Idaho teachers earned high scores on their annual evaluations.

Ybarra at work on next year’s school budget

Ybarra’s initial budget request for 2016-17 is due to Otter on or about Sept. 1.

SBAC grading contract worth $12.1 million

The American Institutes for Research consortium — the low bidder on the contract — has missed deadlines for grading the new statewide test.

West Ada trustees dive into district’s strategic plan

The 77-page document was critiqued by new board member Russell Joki as being too difficult for parents and patron to understand or use. He wants the plan to have more accountability.

Ybarra confident in federal No Child Left Behind rewrite

Ybarra says elements of the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan bill could empower local schools and remove some of the compliance and punishment mandates of No Child Left Behind.

Mountain Home to float a plant facilities levy

Roof repair and electrical upgrades are required in five district buildings, according to an independent analysis of eight facilities. The district is asking voters to pass a $5 million, five-year levy.