FY15 Budget
Eastern Idaho schools want cuts reversed
About 50 eastern Idaho education stakeholders and elected officials gathered one last time to flesh out priorities for the 2014 legislative session that kicks off next month.
Lawmakers likely to look at pilots
Expect legislative hearings on the 11 technology pilot projects — and their performance so far.
Luna hopeful for ‘heavy lift’ for K-12
In an interview with Idaho Public Television’s “Idaho Reports,” state superintendent Tom Luna says he is hopeful that the Legislature will make a down payment on the education task force recommendations.
Task force responds to cost criticisms
Task force members Clark, Lanza and Westerberg said the near unanimous agreement with the recommendations represents a mandate to move toward implementation. They also turned the tables on skeptics by asking if officials have considered the cost of ignoring the proposals.
Lawmakers study K-12 budget scenarios
Two themes emerged as key legislators met in Boise Friday. Money will be tight, for public schools and other agencies. And lawmakers want to make the 2014 session as short as possible.
K-12 budget increase drops to 5.4 percent
Thanks to a change in retirement benefit calculations, more than $7 million has been cut from the proposed FY15 school budget — all without cutting spending for education programs or funding.
State Board members rip Luna’s K-12 budget
Some board members feared that a proposed $77 million increase in public school funding would rob colleges and universities of scarce funding.
Superintendents call for even more money
School officials say increases in health insurance and utilities costs may eat up operational funding before the state can erase recession-era budget cuts.
Lawmakers start scrutinizing Luna budget
Senate Education Committee Chairman John Goedde and House Education Committee Chairman Reed DeMordaunt praised Tom Luna for listening to the task force. However, funding could be the limiting factor during the 2014 session.
Luna calls for 5.9 percent budget increase
Luna’s FY15 budget calls for increasing spending by more than $77 million next year, with $42.5 million of that devoted to a whole new system for paying teachers.