Top educator to speak in Idaho Falls this week

The African American Alliance in Idaho Falls is presenting a celebration in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King this Friday at the Shilo Inn (780 Lindsay Blvd).  The speaker will be Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).  He was recently selected as one of the Top-100 Most Influential People in the World, and a Top-10 University President.

The banquet is Friday and is sponsored by the Idaho Falls African American Alliance, a local nonprofit organization committed to contributing to the educational, economic and cultural growth of the Idaho Falls community.  The event will last from 6-9 p.m., everyone is invited.

Tickets are $35 for adults, $20 for students ages 12 and older and $10 for children under 12.  Adult meals will include Prime Rib, Chicken Astoria or Vegetable Jalousie and the children’s meal will include chicken strips.   For tickets call Monica at 208-521-7258

Education task force meets on Friday

Gov. Butch Otter named his Task Force for Improving Education and scheduled its first meeting for Friday, Jan. 11 in Boise from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The first meeting will be include a welcome from the governor and task force chair Richard Westerberg. The next meetings are Jan. 25 and Feb. 28. The governor said in his State of the State address that he wanted to see results from his task force before taking legislative action in education reform.

Friday’s meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Yanke Research Center (220 ParkCenter Blvd) and is scheduled to run until 3 p.m. Check back here Friday afternoon for coverage of the meeting or follow the meeting on Twitter @idahoednews

House Education Chair Rep. Reed DeMordaunt and Sentate Education Chair Sen. John Goedde are on the task force as is superintendent Tom Luna.

Boise State Public Radio conversation on education

KBSX News is talking about the future of Idaho’s education system and you’re invited to join the conversation. Join reporters and stakeholders for an informal community discussion at Salt Tears Coffeehouse & Noshery on Tuesday, Jan. 15, in Boise.

Last November, Idaho voters struck down a trio of education laws. Those Students Come First laws would have put technology in classrooms, paid teachers based on performance and limited collective bargaining rights for teachers.

Now there’s discussion among state legislators that versions of these laws could come back in the 2013 legislative session. So what would you like to see happen with Idaho’s education?

Salt Tears will provide snacks, so come early and bring your friends. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The discussion begins at 6 p.m. It’s free and open to everyone, but RSVP to Adrienne Zachary at Boise State. Follow the meeting on Twitter @idahoednews with the hashtag #IDedu.

ED Sessions 2.0 brings in Joe Williams

The ED  Sessions 2.0 is a monthly hot lunch series featuring nationally recognized experts in education reform. The next exclusive luncheon will be held Tuesday, Feb. 5, at Linen Building and features Joe Williams, executive director of Democrats For Education Reform.  He has built a reputation as one of the most effective strategists and coalition-builders in the education reform community. He is a nationally recognized analyst and public speaker on education policy and politics. He previously worked as an award-winning education journalist for the New York Daily News and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Check the Ed Sessions 2.0 site for more information and ticket availability. The first hot lunch in January was standing-room only.

Boise School District trustee position opened this week

Applications to fill a position on the Boise School District are being accepted until Friday, Feb. 1. Application can be picked up at the clerk’s office (8169 W. Victory Rd.) or found online but they must be returned in person to the clerk of the board by 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 1.

The opening on the board is to replace Rory Jones, who resigned in December.

Board members will consider all applicants and will likely name a new trustee at its meeting on Monday, Feb. 11. The new trustee would serve until the next board election to be held in Sept. of 2014.

To be eligible to serve as a trustee an individual must be at least 18 years of age, an elector and resident of the Boise School District, and have no direct or indirect interest in district contracts.