IDAHO

West Bonner superintendent’s plan to relocate students met with opposition

Because of an aging boiler and other structural deficiencies, Braden Durst’s idea to temporarily shut down the junior high school was met with calls to “pump the brakes” and “Just slow the freaking roll.”

Vallivue board approves plans for its $78 million bond

The money will allow the district to add two new elementary schools and improve existing buildings and security measures.

Empowering Parents panel discusses program eligibility and limitations

Sen. Lori Den Hartog gave a synopsis of the program’s original intent, and the group addressed private school tuition, homeschool co-op fees and public school fees.

Eight districts to propose levies or bonds in August

INSIDE: Find out what might be on your ballot.

In depth: Are their travels essential, or extravagant?

Idaho’s four college and university presidents spent about $150,000 traveling, over a 12-month span. The head of the State Board of Education defended the practice. A key legislator is skeptical.

TVCA leader remains hopeful that a new $7.5 million campus will be approved

Fruitland’s zoning commission had denied a permit for the expansion, but the city council sided with the charter school’s appeal. The issue could be settled at a Sept. 12 hearing.

Apprenticeship model for teacher certification will tap local talent

This new concept relies on local decisions. If a principal identifies someone in their schools who displays an interest in serving students, that individual could be encouraged to use this pathway.

Idaho Digital Learning Alliance superintendent Jeff Simmons speaks to a packed room at the IASA 2023 conference.

Administrators discuss strategies for harnessing AI

Text-generating artificial intelligence is not going away so school leaders consider how it could be a classroom tool.

Funding formula rewrite still up in the air after second committee meeting

State education leaders agreed that the nearly 30-year-old policy is outdated, complicated and misaligned.

From ‘separation of church and state’ to ‘conservatism,’ West Bonner leader fields variety of questions

Being fiscally conservative drew little to no reaction from the audience. But what did cause a visceral reaction was Durst’s statement that “we need to be the Florida of the United States.”