>>> PRESENTATION OF IDAHO REPORTS ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO, BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>>> HIGHER EDUCATION WAS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT THE I'D HE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK.

TWO YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC, HOW OUR IDAHO'S PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FARING?

I'M MELISSA DAVLIN.

OHIO REPORTS STARTS -- "IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IDAHO REPORTS."

THIS WEEK PRESIDENT GORDON JONES AND PRESIDENT CYNTHIA PEMBERTON OF LEWIS CLARK STATE COLLEGE JOINED ME TO DISCUSS STAFF RETENTION AND STUDENT OUTCOMES IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

THEN ASSOCIATE PRODUCER LOGAN FINEY GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON IDAHO'S LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING MAP.

>>> BUT FIRST, ON MONDAY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE REACTIVATED CRISIS STANDER OF CARE FOR THREE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO'S PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS DUE TO A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF HEALTHCARE STAFF AND BLOOD.

THERE ARE MORE PATIENTS IN NEED OF CARE THAN THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP EVERYONE AT THE SAME LEVEL THEY'RE USED TO EXPERIENCING.

IN THE LAST WEEK THE STATE CONTINUES TO BREAK NEW RECORDS FOR DAILY COVID-19 CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE TO RISE.

ELKE SHAW-TULLOCH FROM THE DIVISION OF PUBLIC HELT JOINED ME ON FRIDAY MORNING TO DISCUSS THIS LATEST SURGE IN CASES WELLS THE REACTIVATION OF CRISIS STANDARDS OF CARE.

>> AT THIS PARTICULAR WAVE IS MASSIVE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COME NOTHING THE -- TO THE HOSPITAL ISN'T NECESSARILY QUITE AS HIGH IT WAS BEFORE, IT'S GETTING HIGHER.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS TIME AROUND ARE KIND OF TWO MAIN ISSUES.

THEY ALREADY HAVE THE STAFFING CHALLENGES THEY HAD BACK FROM THE FALL, WITH PEOPLE LEAVING TO GO TO OTHER PROFESSIONS OR JUST TAKING TIME OFF OR THEY'RE ALREADY STRESSED AND MAXED OUT.

SO THEY'RE NEEDING TO TAKE SOME VACATION TIME AND PLACED ON TOP THAT HAVE IS A LARGE, LARGE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE OUT WHO THEY THEMSELVES ARE SICK OR THEY'RE ON ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE FROM BEING EXPOSED OR THEY'RE HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE SICK.

AND THEN ALSO WE'RE SEEING -- HEARING FROM HOSPITALS THAT STAFF ARE A LITTLE OUT BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEIR SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED FOR THE KIDS AND THEY NEED TO STAY HOME.

IT'S BECAME THIS PERFECT STORM OF A LOT OF -- A LOT OF CHALLENGES REALLY DOMINATING WHY STAFF ARE OUT.

AND THEN COUPLED WITH THAT, THIS TIME AMOUNT -- ACTIVATION IS BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL BLOOD SUPPLY SHORTAGE AND THE CRITICAL NATURE OF THAT.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO KIND OF PRIMARY THINGS THAT MAKE THIS SURGE -- THIS DECLARATION DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST.

>> RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE SPEAKING ON FRIDAY MORNING, CRISIS STANDARDS OF CARE IS ACTIVE FOR THREE PUBLIC HELD DISTRICTS IN SOUTHERN IDAHO.

IS THE REST OF THE STATE SOON TO FOLLOW?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE'VE STATED QUITE A BIT THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

EXCUSE ME.

WE ARE LISTENING TO OUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, OUR HOSPITALS, EVERY SINGLE DAY.

OUR COORDINATION PHONE CALLS, WE'RE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT THEIR STAFFING ISSUES ARE, WHAT THEIR BLOOD SMILE AND OTHER RESOURCE NEEDS ARE.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT STRESSORS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

AND AS THE DIRECTOR HAS USED THE TERM BEFORE, IT'S FRAGILE FOR SURE.

WE HEAR THAT EVEN IN -- FROM THE HOSPITALS THEMSELVES.

SO YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO PREDICT IF THE CASES START COMING DOWN, THEN -- AND PEOPLE ARE DOING THOSE ACTIONS THAT WE TALK ABOUT EVERY SINGLE MEDIA BRIEFING, YOU KNOW, GETTING VACCINATED, WEARING YOUR MASKS, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY PROTECTING OURSELVES WHICH IN TURN PROTECTS OUR COMMUNITIES WHICH THEN THE -- IN TURN PROTECTS THE STAFFING IN THE FACILITIES AND THE STRESSORS AND PEOPLE STEP FORWARD AND DONATE BLOOD AND HELP CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE.

I THINK ALL THOSE CAN CHANGE IT QUICKLY.

AND MAYBE WE WON'T NEED TO DECLARE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE STTE BUT IT IS FRAGILE AND IT COULD BE -- KIND OF AT ANY MOMENT GIVEN WHAT THE HOSPITALS SAY TO US.

BUT I LISTEN EVERY SINGLE DAY AND IT IS CERTAINLY TENUOUS.

AND ONE DAY THEY MIGHT BE FEELING SOMEWHAT OKAY AND THE NEXT DAY THEY'VE GOT TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT ARE OUT.

REALLY POISES SOME HUGE CHALLENGES.

SO IT'S NOT AN EASY ANSWER.

>> ONE LAST QUESTION.

CRISIS STANDARDS OF CARE AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES AREN'T JUST AFFECTED FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE COVID.

THIS IS AFFECTING ALL PATIENTS WHO ARE SEEKING HEALTHCARE RIGHT NOW.

>> CORRECT.

YES.

AND I WOULD EVEN EXTEND THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST A DOMINO EFFECT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WEEK ON OUR MEDIA BRIEFING, WHERE YOU KNOW, EVEN OUR PRIMARY CARE CLINICS ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANT SHORTAGES OF STAFFING AND WE'VE SEEN PRY MAYOR CARE CLINICS CLOSED AND SO THOSE ARE THE PLACE THAT WE'LL CAN GO FOR ROUTINE CARE, WELLNESS CHECKS, SCREENINGS, TO HELP KEEP THEM HEALTHY.

80S THE PLACE THEY GO FOR URGENT NEEDS AS WELL.

STREP THROAT TEST, A -- YOU KNOW, BROKEN FINGER OR SUTURES OR SOMETHING, WHICH THEN IF THOSE CLINICS ARE CLOSED, THEN DRIVES IN TOWARD THE HOSPITAL SETTING, HOSPITAL SETTINGS ALREADY TAXED.

THEY'RE TRYING TO TRANSFER PATIENTS OUT TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES THAT ALSO HAVE STAFFING SHORTAGES.

SO LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, IT CREATE THIS IS BOTTLE IN EK THAT IT'S INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING.

AND WHICH MIGHT MEAN THAT PEOPLE CAPITAL GET THE CARE THEY NEED.

THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO AN URGENT CARE CLINIC TO GET THEIR SPRAINED FINGER TAKEN CARE OF OR THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO READILY BE ABLE TO GO TO A LOCATION AND GET A STREP THROAT TEST FOR THEIR CHILD.

AND SWITCHING OVER, TO THE HOSPITAL SETTING, IF THERE'S NO STAFF THAT ARE AVAILABLE, THEY'RE KIND -- WE WANT PEOPLE TO SEEK HEALTHCARE AND WHEN THEY SHOULD GO IF THEY HAVE AN IMPORTANT NEED TO GO.

BUT IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

YOU KNOW, THOSE SURGERIES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO WAIT ARE GOING -- NOSE -- THERE MIGHT NOT BE A BED AVAILABLE.

THEY MIGHT BE HOLDING, YOU KNOW, TENS OF PATIENTS IN AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WAITING FOR HEM TO GET TRANSFERRED INTO -- ON TO A FLOOR OR INTO A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY, MEANING THAT THEIR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS FULL.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF RIPPLE EFFECT FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED HEALTHCARE THAT AREN'T SPECIFICALLY COVID RELATED BUT THEY'RE DEFINITELY COVID IMPACTED.

>> ELKE SHAW-TULLOCH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>>> TO HEAR OUR FULL CONVERSATION, VISIT THE IDAHO REPORTS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

>>> AND ON THIS WEEK'S "IDAHO REPORTS" PODCAST, DR. WALTER KELLEY, MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, JOINS ME TO DISCUSS THE EMERGENCY BLOOD SHORTAGE AFFECTING IDAHO AND THE WEST OF THE COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW FIND THE "IDAHO REPORTS" PODCAST ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLAYER OR AT IDAHO P TV REPORT/"IDAHO REPORTS."

>>> THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO DEBATE THE BEST WAY TO OFFER TAX RELIEF TO OHIOANS.

ON THURSDAY THE SENATE TAX COMMITTEE VOTED TO SEND THE INCOME TAX AND REBATE BILL TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

THAT $600 MILLION PROPOSAL WOULD OFFER ONE-TIME TAX REBATES AS WELL AS REDUCE THE TOP-TIER INCOME AND CORPORATE TAX BRACKET FROM 6.5 TO 6%.

THAT SENATE FLOOR VOTE IS THE FINAL LEGISLATIVE HURDLE FOR THE BILL AND IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK.

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE BEFORE THURSDAY'S HEARING OUTLINING THEIR OWN SLATE OF ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS CALLED THE IDAHO WORKING FAMILIES AGENDA.

THE ROLLERS INCLUDES ELIMINATING THE TAX ON GROCERIES, ENHANCING THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, AND FUNDING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE PROPERTY BACKS RELIEF.

>> WE CALL IT THE $600 MILLION QUESTION.

WHAT -- AND THE QUESTION BEING, WHAT IS THE BEST USAGE OF THIS $600 MILLION.

SO WE KNOW ON THE RIGHT HERE WHAT HOUSE BILL 436 WILL DO.

THAT IS AGAIN GOING TO COMMITTEE IN THE NEXT TWO HOURS.

YES, AT VARIOUS TIMES WE HAVE BEEN SHOT DOWN.

I BELIEVE ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PROPOSALS.

YEP.

>> THE LEGISLATURE'S JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE HEARD HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET REQUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS THIS WEEK.

AFTER LAST YEAR'S HIGH-PROFILE FIGHTS OVER WHETHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WERE TEACHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY, A CONTROVERSY THAT RESULTED IN LAWMAKERS CUTTING $2.5 MILLION FROM THE UNUSUAL HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET PROPOSAL, REPRESENTATIVE RON NATE ASKED THE PRESIDENT DR. MARLENE TROMP FOR AN UPDATE ON THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS.

>> WHAT MEASURES HAS BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY TAKEN TO REDUCE THAT KIND OF WASTEFUL SPENDING?

I THINK IT WAS $1.5 MILLION DIRECTED AT BSU IN TERMS OF GETTING RID OF THAT SPENDING?

>> WE ENSURE THAT WE'VE ALWAYS TAKEN ANY CONCERN THAT WE HAVE VERY SERIOUSLY -- RAISED VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE HAVE POLICIES AND PROCESSES IN PLACE.

AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO OUR STUDENTS ARE THE SERVICES THEY'VE REQUESTED, THEY'VE ASKED FOR.

>> ALL OF THESE INCLUDE WHAT ARE ARGUABLY SOCIAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I OBJECT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE NATE, IS THERE A QUESTION IN THERE?

>> I'M ACTUALLY SEEING AN INCREASE IN SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMMING.

AM I MISSING SOMETHING AT BOISE STATE?

>> WHAT WE'VE DONE AT BOISE STATE AND WHAT WE AIMED TO DO FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO EVOLVE OUR PROGRAMMING AND TO ENSURE THAT OUR PROGRAMMING WAS MEETING STUDENT NEEDS.

>> AGAIN, INSTEAD OF HEARING TO CUT BAB -- >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I OBJECT.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO ASK A QUESTION THAT IS BUDGET RELATED WITHOUT BEING INTERRUPTED.

>> ON FRIDAY REPRESENTATIVE NATE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION TO UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO PRESIDENT C. SCOTT GREEN.

>> WE DID TAKE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND INDOCTRINATION SERIOUSLY.

TO THE GREAT CREDIT OF OUR LEGISLATURE, HOUSE BILL 377 PROTECTS ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THUS PROTECTING IDAHO'S COMES AND UNIVERSITIES FROM GOVERNMENT MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE TAUGHT.

IT IS THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE'S AND POLL AT THIS TIMEBURST IN THE PAST OF COMMUNE CAIFT COUNTRIES TO DETERMINE WHAT CAN AND CAN'T BE TAUGHT.

THEY WOULD NOT WANT SOCIAL JUSTICE OR HUMANITARIAN SUBJECTS TO BE TAUGHT EITHER.

WE APPRECIATE THE PROTECTIONS AVERAGEDDED BY THE BILL.

BUT -- ADDED BY THE BILL.

IT ENSHER US NO ONE CAN REQUIRE STUDENTS TO AFFIRM, ADOPT, OR ADHERE TO ANY SPECIFIC BELIEF.

IN SHORT, IT TAKES AWAY THE TOOL OF INCON -- INDOCTRINATION.

I WAS CONFIDENT THERE WAS NO SUCH PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF'D HOE.

-- IDAHO.

AND WHILE I WAS CONFIDENT OF THAT, CERTAIN CONFLICT ENTREPRENEURS AND THOSE WHO EARN THEIR LIVING SQUARING -- SCARING PEOPLE WERE MADE THESE CLAIMS AND WERE USED TO CUT OUR BUDGET LAST YEAR.

WE WANTED TO BE SURE AND ENSURE THAT WE WERE FOLLOWING IDAHO LAW INDEED AND IN SPIRIT.

-- IN DEED AND IN SPIRIT.

>> WHILE SOME LAWMAKERS WANTED TO TALK ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS, THE UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE POINTS SPENT THEIR WEEK FOCUSED ON IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THEIR INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS TUITION AND STAFF RETENTION.

ON FRIDAY PRESIDENT CYNTHIA PEMBERTON OF LEWIS CLARK STATE COLLEGE AND JORDAN AGAINST OF COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO JOINED ME TO DISCUSS THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES TWO YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC.

>> THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

PRESIDENT PEMMERTON, I WANT -- PEMBERTON I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE DURANT STATE -- CURRENT STATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION?

>> WHEN I WAS HIRED IT WAS JULY 2013.

AND WE ROLLED FROM THE EARLY START INTO BUDGET CUTS.

THERE WERE A SERIES OF HOLDBACKS AND BUDGET CUTS IMPOSE.

AND THEN WE ROLLED NO A PANDEMIC.

AND NOW WE'RE IN YEAR TWO OF A PANDEMIC AND WE'RE ALSO IN A SCENARIO WHERE NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE PRETTY EXTREME FINANCIAL PRESSURES, BUT ALSO A CRAZY JOB MARKET, WITH SALARIES THAT ARE ESCALATING BY THE DAY ACROSS -- ACROSS DIFFERENT JOB MARKETS AND POSITIONS AND WORK GROUPS.

SO WHAT'S THE STATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION?

IT'S ONE THAT I CHARACTERIZED THIS WEEK IN SOME CONVERSATIONS IN THE LEGISLATURE AS NAVIGATING THE PERFECT STORM.

>> WOULD YOU AGREE, PRESIDENT JONES, IS THIS A PERFECT STORM AND IF SO, HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE IT?

>> WELL, I WOULD AGREE WITH CYNTHIA.

I THINK THIS HAS REALLY GOT A LOT OF DYNAMICS AT WORK IN THE STATE OF BOTH HIGHER ED NATIONALLY AND HERE IN I'VE HAD HOE.

BUT I'M COMING FROM BOISE STATE ON 15 DAYS ON THE JOB AT CB -- YWI.

I THINK WE BOTH FACE THE SAME ISSUES IS HOW TO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE VALUE OF OUR INSTITUTIONS STAYS ABOVE ALL THOSE THINGS, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THERE IS A DURABLE, EVER-PRESENT VALUE THAT WE CAN OFFER I'VE HADIANS -- I'VE HADDANS -- OHIOANS SPECIFICALLY AROUND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND THE ABILITY THAT WHERE I AM TODAY IS NOT LIMITED BY WHERE I AM TODAY.

AND THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE HERE FOR YOU.

AND I THINK WHETHER THAT BE WITH THE PANDEMIC THAT'S CREATING PRESSURE AND TURBULENCE, I THINK OUR LEGISLATIVE COMMUNITY HOPEFULLY CARRIES THAT MESSAGE TO THEM AND I THINK WE'VE ALL TRIED TO WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE WE ARE, A LOT OF CHALLENGES FOR FOLKS, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY HERE FOR YOU, NOT TREE TRYING -- HERE TRYING TO COMPETE IN ANY WAY OR SOMEHOW LOSING OUR RELEVANCE.

>> ONE OF THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THAT I HEARD FROM MULTIPLE INSTITUTIONS, WHETHER IT WAS IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY OR LEWIS AND CLARK, WAS STAFF RETENTION.

AND YOU IN PARTICULAR HIGHLIGHTED A LOT OF SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO BORDER COMMUNITIES LIKE LEWISSTON.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WRITE.

-- RIGHT.

IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, THE MINIMUM WAGE IS ALMOST 14.15 AN HOUR.

I'M IMITD ABOUT -- EXCITED AND STRUGGLING TO PAY CUSTODIANS 12.50 AN HOUR.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF RETENTION RATE SHOWS US AT 29% LOSS.

WE ARE -- OUR ATTRITION RATE IN PROFESSIONAL STAFF IS 20% LOSS.

OUR FACULTY IS 10% LOSS.

RIGHT NOW IT'S HARD TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO STAY WORKING IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN A BORDER COMMUNITY WHEN THEY FEEL RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER.

I'D HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT ECONOMIC OUTLOOK.

AND BASICALLY STAY IN THEIR HOMETOWN.

AND SO THAT DOES MAKE IT -- COMPOUNDS THE SITUATION.

BUT IT CERTAINLY COMPOUNDS IT.

>> DOES THE TREASURE VALLEY FACE THOSE SAME STAFF RETENTION ISSUES?

>> I THINK WE DO.

WE'RE NOT A BOATER COMMUNITY BUT I THINK -- BORDER COMMUNITY, BUT PUBLIC SERVANTS, WE'RE HERE FOR OHIOANS.

THE END OF THE DAY THE -- I'VE HAD HOEIANCE 679 -- IDAHOANS.

THESE ARE TALENTED PUBLIC SERVANTS AND THEY'RE VALUE IS SEEN BY OTHERS AND OFTEN PRIVATE EMPLOYERS AS WELL.

AND SO WHA I SEE IS A LOT OF TALENT THAT IF THAT GAP BETWEEN THEIR DESIRE TO SERVE IDAHOIANS BUT ECONOMICALLY IT BECOMES SUCH A STRETCH, THAT'S WHERE I THINK THAT CHALLENGE IS.

AND I CERTAINLY -- WE'RE ALL WRESTLING WITH HOW WE CAN MAINTAIN PARITY, WHERE THE MISSION-PLUS THAT COMPENSATION CAN ALLOW PEOPLE TO KEEL FOOD ABOUT GETTING OUT OF BED EVERY DAY AND COMING TO WORK.

>> AND PEOPLE LOVE LIVING IN IDAHO.

IDAHO IS TRULY A GEM IN THE NATION.

AND NOW WHAT WE KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE WAYS THAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY AND REMOTE WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC, WELL, THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR LEWISTON COMMUNITY AND THEY CAN BE WORKING FOR GOOGLE.

AND THEY CAN BE WORKING IN OTHER PLACES.

AND THAT IS -- THAT'S AN ADDED PRESSURE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AN ATTRACTIVE EMPLOYMENT OPTION SO THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE WORK THEY LOVE AND THE PLACE THEY WANT -- IN THE PLACE THEY WANT TO LIVE.

>> IS THAT SALARY AND PAY ISSUE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN SOLVE WITHOUT THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I THINK IT TAKES ALL SOLUTIONS POSSIBLE.

AND SO I WOULD INCLUDE OUR LEGISLATURE AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR TOWNS, SOLVING TOWN AND LOCAL ISSUES.

I MEAN, WHERE WE COME TOGETHER OBVIOUSLY IS AS ONE STATE, BUT I THINK THAT RECOGNITION OF THE INVESTMENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR TOWNS, WHO ARE SERVING OUR CITIZENS, I THINK IT IS CERTAINLY A COMPONENT.

AND ACTUALLY A PRETTY IMPORTANT ONE.

IT'S IMPORTANT WE BELIEVE IN SOLVING PROBLEMS LOCALLY IN THIS STATE AND I THINK A REFLECTION OF OUR LEGISLATURE IS WHERE WE WANT TO PUT THOSE PRIORITIES.

THAT'S MY QUICK AND DIRTY ANSWER.

WE CERTAINLY WILL LOOK OTHER PLACES, BUT WE WANT TO START WITH THE PLACES THAT ARE FUNDING THE PUBLIC WORK THAT WE DO AS PUBLIC SERVANTS.

>> EXACTLY.

I MEAN, THE ANSWER IS BOTH ASK.

OF COURSE WE NEED LEGISLATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HELPING US MOVE FORWARD.

WE ARE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND THAT IS A VERY DIFFERENT ECOSYSTEM THAN A PRIVATE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

SO YES, THERE'S A ROLE FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

WE NEED THEM INVOLVED.

WE NEED THEIR HELP, THEIR SUPPORT.

AND THROUGH THAT SUPPORT, WHAT HAPPENS IS WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OUR IDAHO PUBLIC EDUCATION SPACE AS OVERALL THE SIXTH LOWEST TUITION IN THE UNITED STATES.

IN IDAHO HIGHER ED IS ACCESSIBLE AND IT'S INCREDIBLY AFFORDABLE, AS WELL AS HOPEFULLY AS FOLKS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECOGNIZE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST WEEK, WITH THE DIFFERENT HIGHER EDUCATION PRESIDENTS PRESENTING, IT'S ALSO ACCOMPLISHED.

ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND ACCOMPLISHED.

AND WITH LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT, WE'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT SPACE AND THAT BETTER SERVES IDAHO.

THAT SERVES OUR CITIZENS.

>> ARE THE OUTCOMES WHERE YOU WANT TO BE WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENT RETENTION AND GRADUATE RATES?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND IT IS A NEW WASN'TED ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION -- NEWANSED ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

AT LC STATE WE HAVE A REDEMPTION RATE OF 60% FROM YEAR ONE TO YEAR TWO OF STUDENT POPULATION.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

A THIRD OF OUR POPULATION ARE NONTRADITIONAL PART-TIME STUDENTS.

THEY'RE WORKING.

THEY HAVE FAMILIES, THEY HAVE HOUSEHOLDS THAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

THEY'RE LIVES ARE COMPLICATED AND BUSY.

AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA FINISH IN FOUR YEARS.

IF IT TAKES THEM FOUR, SIX, 12 YEARS, I'M EXCITED THAT THEY COMPLETE THEIR JOURNEY AND CELEBRATE WITH THEM ON THAT END POINT JOURNEY.

BUT IN TERMS OF GRADUATION RATE, THE TRADITIONAL METRICS OF GRADUATION, IT'S ABOUT 38 PARENT AT -- 38% OF LC STATE.

THAT'S NOT GREAT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FOUR-YEAR TRADITIONAL STUDENT, 18 TO 22, 23-YEAR-OLD, WE TOOK OUR COHORT OF SUBSTITUTES.

WE SAID THEY'RE -- STUDENT-ATHLETES.

THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL FULL TIME.

THEY HAVE TO STAY ELIGIBLE FOR ATHLETICS.

SO THEY'RE THE TRADITIONAL STUDENT.

THEIR RETENTION 8 IS OVER 90%.

-- RATE IS OVER 90%.

AND THEY'RE GRADUATION RATE WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL TIME FRAMES IS 61% AND THEY'RE AVERAGE IS THE LINE PO 29%.

-- 3.

-- 3.0%.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STUDENTS, IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT OUR GRADUATION RATE BY THE TRADITIONAL METRICS IS NOT AS EXCITING AS RIDE LIKE IT -- AS I'D LIKE IT TO BE.

BUT IF YOU AT THE TRADITIONAL STUDENT, WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

>> WHAT'S THE PICTURE LIKE AT WCI?

>> I THINK IT'S -- CWI?

>> I THINK NTHIA HAS A GREAT ANSWER.

I WOULD SAY WE'RE DESIGNING AROUND STUDENT OUTCOMES AND A LOT OF -- YOU HEAR THIS WORD TRADITIONAL METRICS, TRADITIONAL STUDENTS.

NOT ALL LISTENERS AND INJURIES MAY KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

THOSE TRADITIONAL METRICS ARE OFTEN FOUR YEAR OUR GRADUATION IN SIX YEARS.

WE'RE ALL -- WE ALL KNOW THAT LIFE IS MOVING IN AE HAVE INTERESTING DIRECTION WHERE WE HAVE CHAPTERS.

THERE MAY BE MOMENTS YOU'RE COMING BACK TO SCHOOL IN AND OUT.

AND SO WHAT I THINK CYNTHIA, IF I CAN EVEN PIGGYBACK, IS WE'RE ALL RECOGNIZING INSIDE HIGHER ED, THAT SOME OF THOSE METRICS AREN'T HELPFUL FOR COMMUTING THE VALUE THAT'S BEING DELIVERED.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES, WE'RE TAKING ALL STUDENTS.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE PROUD OF AND BY DESIGN, DESIGNED TO DO.

NOT ALL STUDENTS HAVE YET EVEN FORMULATED A GOAL.

THEY KNOW?

SHOULD -- THEY KNOW THEY SHOULD GO.

THERE MAY BE INSTANCES WHERE SOMEBODY AND GET AS 12-CREDIT HOUR CERTIFICATE IN QUICK BOOKS.

NOW YOU CAN DO BOOK KEEPING AND THAT HAS YOU COME BACK TO US.

THAT'S NOT CAPTURED IN TRADITIONAL METRICS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> BUT WE KNOW WE'RE SERVING PEOPLE IN A BETTER WAY.

BUT FOR THAT TRADITIONAL PERSON, WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY ROOM TO IMPROVE.

BUT WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

IF YOU CAN BROAD BE THE APAUTEUR AND SEE -- APERTURE AND SEE WHAT SUCCESS IS.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN IDAHO.

TO HEAR OUR FULL CONVERSATION, VISIT THE IDAHO REPORTS YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT.

IT IS A GREAT CONVERSATION.

THE IDAHO SUPREME COURT ISSUED A UNANIMOUS RULING ON THURSDAY SHUTTING DOWN FOUR CHALLENGES TO THE STATE'S LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING MAP, MEANING THAT THE NEW LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS ARE OFFICIALLY IN PLACE AHEAD OF THE MAY 17TH PRIMARY.

THE FILING DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND MOST VOTERS TO CHANGE THEIR PARTY AFFILIATION IS MARCH 11TH.

JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THAT RULING IS LOGAN FINEY.

YOU'VE BEEN RECOVERING REDISTRICTING THIS ENTIRE TIME.

REAL QUICK, GIVE US AN UPDATE OR REMIND US WHAT THE CHALLENGES WERE ABOUT.

>> SURE.

IT WAS FOUR CONSOLIDATED CHALLENGES TO THE REDISTRICTING MAP.

THE FIRST WAS FROM BRANDON DURS WHO THE IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR AND CANDIDATE FOR SUPERINTENDENT.

AND HIS CHALLENGE WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE MAP ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION SPLIT EIGHT COUNTIES WHEN HE AND SEVERAL OTHER CITIZENS -- CITIZENS SPLIT MAPS THAT WERE SEVEN COUNTIES.

THAT'S BEEN THE GUIDING CONCEPT IN REDISTRICTING AND THE COMMISSION IS NOT ALLOWED TO SPLIT COUNTIES MORE THAN POSSIBLE.

OTHER CHALLENGES CAME FROM THE TRIBES WHO SAID THAT THEIR RESERVATIONS WERE SPLIT TOO MANY TIMES.

I BELIEVE THE ADOPTED MAP SPLITS THE COEUR D'ALENE MAP TWICE AND ESPECIALLY IN FOR THE HALL, IT DIVIDES THE MAIN POPULATION CENTER OF THE RESERVATION BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER CHALLENGE FROM SPENCER STUCKE WHO SAID THAT THE COUNTY DIVISION RULES WERE TOO RESTRICTIVE AND REALLY TIED THE COMMISSION'S HANDS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPLIT AN EXTRA COUNTY TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE COMMUNITY OF INTEREST CONCERNS OF CITIZENS IN EASTERN IDAHO.

HE SAID BECAUSE OF THE WEIRD SHAPE OF NORTHERN IDAHO, HE USED UP ALL THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTY SPLITS AND DON'T HAVE ANY OPTIONS IN THE EAST.

THE FOURTH CHALLENGE WAS ADA COUNTY.

THEY SAID THE MAP DIVIDED THEIR COUNTY IN AN UNFAVORABLE WAY WHERE PART OF THE NORTHERN AREAS OF THE COUNTIES ARE GROUPED WITH COUNTIES TO THE NORTH, SOUTHERN AREAS GROUPED TO THE SOUTH AND THEY SAID THAT THE COUNTIES WERE SPLIT TOO MANY TIMES AND IT REALLY PAIRED UNLIKE COMMUNITIES OF THE CITIES IN THE TREASURE VALLEY WITH THE URBAN AREAS OF THE NEIGHBORING COUNTIES THAT THEY SAID WAS UNFAIR.

>> SO WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAT ALL CENTER ON HOW TO SPLIT COUNTIES AND HOW MANY TIMES YOU CAN APPROPRIATELY SPLIT COUNTIES.

BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPETING INTERESTS THAT THE COMMISSION HAD TO BALANCE.

>> YES, AND ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT THE SUPREE COURT DECISION CAME DOWN TO, WAS THIS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT JOB OF DRAWING NEW MAPS IS ENTRUSTED TO THE COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSION HAS SOME LEVEL OF DISCRETION, WHICH IS KIND OF NEW ACTUALLY IN THIS SUPREME COURT PRECEDENCE.

FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO CREATE THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION WAS PASSED BY VOTERS IN 1994.

AND THE SEVENTH ONLY HAPPENS OF -- SENSES ONLY HALVES EVERY DEN YEARS.

SO THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WE'VE HAD A REDISTRICTING COMMISSION IN CHARGE OF DRAWING THE MAPS INSTEAD OF THE LEGISLATURE.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN 30 YEARS, THIS IS STILL KIND OF A RELATIVELY NEW AREA OF LAW WITH ROOM FOR SOME CHANGES.

>> THERE AREN'T TOO MANY COURT OPINIONS TO LOOK AT FOR THAT PRECEDENCE.

>> RIGHT.

YOU CAN SAY THIS PRECEDENT IS 10 YEARS OLD.

I SHOULD START.

10 YEARS AGO WAS THE LAST TIME% IT HAPPENED.

>> JUST ONE LAWSUIT FROM TWIN FALLS COUNTY.

WHAT DID THE RULING SAY?

WHERE DID THE JUSTICESSERR ON?

>> PREVIOUS INTERPRETATIONS FROM PREVIOUS COURTS, WE DISCUSSED, THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT AT DURANT TIME ARE ALL BRAND NEW SINCE THE PREVIOUS ROUND OF REDISTRICTING.

AND SO THEY SAID OUR PRESS DES SAYSORS -- PREDECESSORS READ THE CONSTITUTION WRONG WHERE THERE'S AN AREA THAT SAYS THERE'S A COMMISSION BOUND BY STATUTE.

AND THIS IS GETTING A LITTLE TECHNICAL.

BUTT OF MATILY THERE'S A SECTION OF CODE THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T SPLIT COUNTIES MORE THAN POSSIBLE BUT THE SUPREME COURT SAID ACTUALLY THIS WAS WRIT WHEN IT WAS THE LEGISLATURE THAT WAS IN CHARGE OF REDISTRICTING AND THE LEGISLATURE WOULD PASS A STATUTE, PASS A LAW THAT GETS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND THEY SAID NOW THAT THE COMMISSION IS IN CHARGE, THE COMMISSION IS THE ONE WHO CREATES THE FINAL PLAN AND ADOPTION IT.

THEY -- ADOPTS IT.

THEY SAID IT'S SUPPOSED TO FOCUSED ON THE FEDERAL -- OF EQUAL PROTECTION, ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE, POPULATIONS NEED TO BE AS CLOSE TO EACH OTHER AS POSSIBLE.

>> SO IN OTHER WORDS, ROUGHLY THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN EACH OF THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

>> YES.

AND THAT WAS THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE COMMISSION THIS TIME AND THE SPREEPT WENT SO FAR TO NOTE THAT THIS IS THE LOWEST POPULATION DEVIATION OF ANY PLAN THAT'S BEEN ADOPTED BY A COMMISSION.

AND -- >> ROUGHLY A DIFFERENCE OF 5%.

>> 5 UPON 7%.

>> LOGAN -- 5.7%.

>> LOGAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND YOU'LL CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE LAST CHALLENGE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

WE WILL HAVE THAT COVERAGE WITH OUR ONLINE CONTENT.

YOU CAN FIND THE LINK AT WBZ.

OUR WEBSITE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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