State superintendent Debbie Critchfield discussed her legislative priorities with staff at the State Department of Education Thursday. She’s preparing to present the education budget to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Jan. 25.
That same week, presidents from Idaho’s public higher education institutions will present their budgets to the committee.
The superintendent also met with lawmakers Thursday, including members of the House and Senate education committees and JFAC.
Thursday evening, Critchfield attended a town hall meeting about school choice — a hot topic among legislators and public school advocates this session — at the Statehouse. Critchfield left the meeting early to attend a sports game at Timberline High School; the town hall ran from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Five members of the Senate Education Committee — Sens. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton; Cindy Carlson, R-Riggins; Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene; Scott Herndon, R-Sagle; and Brian Lenney, R-Nampa — organized the event, which was open to the public. Carlson did not present at the meeting.
“This town hall meeting is an opportunity for us to hear from the community and share what we believe is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to give Idaho families the educational freedom they deserve,” Lenney said in a news release announcing the event.
Click here for our full coverage of Thursday’s town hall meeting.
