>> HELLO, I'M JOAN CARTAN HANSEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AND ON PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN THE MERIDIAN DISTRICT, THE DISTRICT OFFICE'S PHONES WERE OVERLOADED WITH PARENT'S COMPLAINING ABOUT LOST BUS ROUTES.

THE MADISON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT LOST SOME OF ITS EXPERIENCED UPPER DIVISION MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS OVER THE SUMMER BECAUSE THEY COULD FIND HIGHER PAYING JOBS IN WYOMING OR OTHER NEAR BY INSTITUTIONS.

IN POTLATCH, THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WENT SMOOTHLY, bUT BECAUSE THE DISTRICT HAD TO CUT THE FIRST TWO PREP DAYS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, TEACHERS HAD TO PREPARE FOR CLASSES ON THEIR OWN OVER THE SUMMER.

WHEN GOVERNOR OTTER AND IDAHO'S LEGISLATORS SLASHED THE PUBLIC SCHOOL APPROPRIATION BY MORE THAN $128 MILLION LAST SESSION, SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE DRAMATIC CUTS.

WHAT WAS TALK LAST SPRING BECAME REALITY WHEN KIDS WENT BACK TO SCHOOL, bUT THERE MAY BE SOME RELIEF tHANKS TO A NEW FEDERAL EDUCATION JOBS FUND, IDAHO WILL BE RECEIVING 51 OF $7 MILLION IN ONE-TIME MONIES, BUT IS IT ENOUGH?

IS IT TOO LATE FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR?

AND IN THE LONG RUN, HOW WILL THIS BUDGET CRIS IMPACT IDAHO'S SCHOOL CHILDREN?

EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE BROUGHT TOGETHER FOUR EDUCATORS AND ADMINSTRATORS FROM AROUND THE STATE TO TALK ABOUT IDAHO'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

WE BRING THEM BACK TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN IDAHO'S CLASSROOMS.

JOINING US IN OUR POCATELLO STUDIO IS GEOFFREY THOMAS, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MADISON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING M >> IN OUR MOSCOW STATION IS MARK MOORER, POTLATCH DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.

THANK YOU, SIR, FOR JOINING US.

>> NICE TO BE HERE, JOAN.

>> AND IN BOISE IS LINDA CLARK, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MERIDIAN DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> AND SHERRI WOOD, PRESIDENT OF THE IDAHO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

GIVE US A CALL TOLL FREE AT 1-800-973-9800.

LET'S KICK OFF THE CONVERSATN WITH HOW DID THE SCHOOL YEAR START IN YOUR VIEW.

LET'S GO TO POCATELLO FIRST.

>> WELL, THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED QUITE WELL.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD HAD SEVERAL PARENT MEETINGS IN THE SPRING AND MEETINGS WITH STAFF AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO OUTLINE THE CUTS THAT -- AND WE DISCUSSED WHAT THE CUTS THAT WERE POSSIBLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ENACT.

WE CUT ABOUT $900,000 OUT OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET BEFORE THE NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN.

AND THEN, AS SCHOOL BEGAN, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE HAD WAS TRYING TO FIND UPPER LEVEL DIVISION MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS, AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

OUR BORDER IS INCREDIBLY CLOSE TO WYOMING, AND WE LOST A NUMBER OF HIGHLY-TALENTED AND QUALIFIED TEACHERS TO WYOMING AND SOME TO BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, IDAHO, AND WHEN YOUR BUDGETS ARE BEING CUT, NOT ONLY THE 7.5% THIS YEAR BUT ALSO THE CUTS THAT HAPPEN IN THE PREOUS YEARS WHICH TOTAL TO ABOUT 14% OVER TWO YEARS, IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO COMPETE WITH THESE OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT VERT PRIVATE FUNDING OR THEY HAVE BETTER STATE RESOURCES TO DRAW FROM.

BUT DESPITE ALL THAT, WE HAD A GOOD START AND WE'RE UP ABOUT 83 STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT.

>> AND MARK, HOW ABOUT THE POTLATCH DISTRICT THERE?

>> WELL, AS GEOFF JUST INDICATED A MOMENT AGO, LAST SPRING WE DEALT WITH THE BUDGETARY ISSUES BY MAKING CUTS TO THE OPERATING BUDGET AND THEN DEALING WITH THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS THROUGH OUR NEGOTIATION PROCESS.

WE WERE ABLE TO STRIKE AN AGREEMENT.

AND SO BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDED, OUR TEACHER, OUR STAFF, KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO NEED DO COMING BACK INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THUS, ALTHOUGH OUR TEACHERS LOST A COUPLE OF PREP DAYS, BEING THE PROFESSIONALS THAT THEY ARE, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THEIR WORK TOGETHER.

WE, AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SERVED UP AN OFFERED UP A BARBECUE LUNCH FOR THE FIRST DAY THAT THEY CAME BACK IN ORDER TO SHOW THEM A LITTLE APPRECIATION OF HOW HARD THEY WORK AND WHAT THEY DO FOR OUR DISTRICT.

AND FROM WHAT I'M TOLD, WE TOO ARE UP IN STUDENT POPULATION AND EVERYTHING IS MOVING SMOOTHLY AT THE PRESENT TIME.

>> MERIDIAN.

>> WELL, WE HAVE AN INTERESTING START.

YOU REFERENCED THE BUSES AND WE HAD TO CUT $1.3 MILLION JUST FROM TRANSPORTATION, SO THAT WAS ELIMINATION OF 56 BUS ROUTES AND 1400 BUS STOPS OF THE 6,000 STOPS THAT WE'VE HAD.

WE CUT $11.5 MILLION BEFORE WE BEGAN TO NEGOTIATE AND HAD PATRON APPROVAL TO USE $4 MILLION OF PLANT FACILITY MONEY FOR GENERAL FUND BUT THAT IS STILL $11.5 MILLION FROM OPERATIONS, THAT MEANS NO MONEY FOR TEXT BOOK ADOPTIONS, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, ALL THE THINGS WE HAD OUTLINED TO OUR PATRONS.

BUT CLEARLY THE ISSUE THAT WAS ON MOST FOLK'S MIND WAS DRASTIC CHANGES AND HOW STUDENTS ARE TRANSPORTED TO AND FROM SCHOOL, MAJOR CHANGES IN THE BUS ROUTES AND ELIMINATING THE BUSES GOING THROUGH SUBDIVISIONS TO MORE OF A COLLECTOR SYSTEM.

THAT TOOK A LOT OF PLANNING AND CHANGING.

>> AND TRANSPORTATION MONEY COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE.

>> IT COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE, AND WE HAD A MILLION-DOLLAR CUT AND THEN WE WERE OVER LAST YEAR'S CEILING BY 300,000, SO THATS WOULD TWO FIGURES THAT WE'RE WERE VERY SIGNIFICANT CUTS.

>> I'M SURE YOU HAD CHANCE TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS ALL OVER THE STATE.

WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD?

>> ACTUALLY,S ATRAVELED AROUND THE STATE, I HEARD LOT OF INTERESTING STORIES OF NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO HAVE ANY TIME TO GET THEIR CLASS READY UNLESS THEY DID IT ON THEIR OWN TIME.

CLASS SIZE INCREASES TO WHERE MANY TEACHERS MIGHT HAVE HAD 23 SECOND GRADERS LAST YEAR AND NOW THEY HAVE 29 OR 30 OR 31.

SO LESS OPPORNITY FOR INDIVIDUAL TIME WITH YOUR TEACHER, OR FOR STUDENTS.

I'VE HEARD STORIES OF TEACHERS APPLYING FOR GRANTS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO HAVE ANY MONEY FOR THEIR LIBRARIES.

THE WHOLE IDEA OF PARENTS HAVING TO SHELL O EXTRA MONEY TO ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN OR TO PAY FEES FOR TAKING ADVANCED MATH AND SCIENCE COURSES, I MEAN, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON OF THE REALITIES OF THE CUTS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> WE SEE THE NUMBER -- WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF E-MAILS AND I WILL THROW THIS OUT TO YOU.

MY FAVORITE ONE, SAD THREE SAY IS A PARENT WHO SAYS SHE WAS ASKED TO BRING IN TOILET PAPER.

THAT THE SCHOOL BUDGET WAS THAWINGS SUCH THAT TOILET PAPER WAS ON THE LIST WITH PAPER AND PENS.

THE REALITY OF NUT SITUATION.

TALK ABOUT FEDERAL EDUCATION MONEY IS THAT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> YES, IT IS GOING TO HELP AND WE FELT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE IT FOR WHAT IT WAS INTENDED, WHICH WAS TO RESTORE DAYS THAT WERE LOST IN THE CONTRACT, TO RESTORE POSITIONS THAT HAD BEEN CUT AND TO STAVE OFF ANY FURTHER STAFF CUTS.

SO WE, OUR BOARD APPROVED RESTORING FIVE OF THE SEVEN DAYS WHICH WERE CUT.

VERY IMPORTANTLY, THREE OF THOSE DAYS WERE SCHOOL DAYS, SO WE WERE ABLE TO ADD THE THREE DAYS BACK AS WELL AS TWO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THAT WILL HELP SIGNIFICANTLY.

WE ALSO REHIRED 2.8 COUNSELORS, 1.6 SCHOOL NURSES, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THOSE WERE AREAS THAT HAD BEEN CUT THAT CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WOULD FEEL AS THE YEAR WAS PROGRESSING.

WE HELD 1.4 MILLION BACK FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THAT'S ABOUT WHAT WE PUT -- THAT'S ABOUT THE AM OF STAFF WE PUT INTO THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT WILL GO AWAY AND WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT CLIFF THAT IS COMING COMINO LET ME GET OUR FIRST CALLER IN HERE.

TORI IN BOISE.

>> AS A PARENT AND PATRON, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AROUND I WAS WONDERING IF ONE OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS OR THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER COULD EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING HOW THESE FUNDS ARE SPENT AND HOW CAN MYSELF AS A PARENT GET INVOLVED IN THIS, BECAUSE I'M PRETTY UPSET.

>> OKAY.

>> LET'S PUT THE QUESTION OUT.

HOW IS THE FEDERAL -- OKAY, GO AHEAD.

>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT.

TORI, IF YOU WERE HERE IN THE POTLATCH SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME OR ANY OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AS TO YOUR DESIRES AS TO HOW THAT MONEY IS TO BE SPENT.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE IS THAT WE'RE TAKING INFORMATION FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENTS, FROM OUR BUDGET WRITERS, FROM OUR BUSINESS MANAGERS AS T THEIR IDEAS AS TO THE BEST WAY TO USE THE FUNDS.

WE'RE TAKING INFORMATION FROM THE TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS AS TO WHAT THEY THINK SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE FUNDS, AND WE'RE JUST GAERING THE INFORMATION AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

I KNOW THAT MERIDIAN IS THE FIRST DISTRICT TO HAVE MADE A DECISION, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARENY OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE STATE HAVE MADE THE DECISIONS TOO WHAT TO DO WITH THE FUNDS, AND SO WE'RE, RIGHT NOW, JUST GATHERING THAT INFORMATION, TRYING TO SEE HOW OUR ECONOMIC CYCLES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FLOW IN ORDER TO MAKE PRUDENT DECISIONS DOWN THE ROAD.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, WE HAVE 27 MONTHS IN WHICH TO SPEND THIS MONEY, AND IF YOU REMEMBER THE PHRASE THAT LINDA USED JUST A MOMENT AGO, THERE IS A CLIFF COMING IN 2012 YOU.

>> BOTH MENTIONED THAT, APOLOGIZE FOR INTERUPTING.

AN ARM CLIFF?

>> ARRA, AMERICAN RECOVERY INVESTMENT ACT, A TWO-YEAR INFUSE 6 FUNDS THAT CAME TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGH THE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND TITLE ONE FUNDING.

AS A PART OF THAT, ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY WERE TOLD THEY COULD MOVE HALF OF THE SPECIAL ED, USE HALF OF THE SPECIAL ED MONEY THAT CAME ON A ONE-TIME BASIS INTO STAFF, SO MANY OF US MOVED THAT AMOUNT THERE.

WELL, WHEN THAT MONEY GOES AWAY, IF CONGRESS DOES NOT INCREASE THE ALLOCATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, THOSE FOLKSILL HAVE TO BE REABSORBED INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

THAT IS A HUGE CLIFF.

THAT MONEY ENDS THIS YEAR.

>> I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERUPTING, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO GET THAT CLEAR.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO SOMETHING THAT MARK SAID, TRUE TO FACT, THE LAW DOES STATE THAT A DISTRICT HAS 27 MONTHS TO SPEND THE MONEY, BUT I HAVE BEEN ON FOUR DIFFERENT CONFERENCE CALLS WITH THE U.S.

SECRETARY ARNIE DUNCAN AND ARNIE DUNCAN SAYS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THE INTENT OF THE LAW, THE INTENT OF THE MONEY IS TO TUESDAY THIS YEAR, THIS SCHOOL YEAR, TO RESTORE CUTS THAT WERE TAKEN BASED ON THE CUTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT THIS SHEET THAT I HAVE HERE OF ALL THE SCOL DISTRICTS AND ALL OF THE CUTS THAT WERE TAKEN ACROSS THE STATE, WHEN YOU TOTAL IT UP, AND I STILL HAVE SEVERAL DISTRICTS THAT AREN'T REPORTED ON THIS REPORT, WE HAVE OVER 208 FURLOUGH DAYS IN THE STATE.

THAT IS OVER AN ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR CUT BECAUSE OF THE CUTS THAT WE TOOK LAST YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND I SEE HERE POTLATCH TOOK EIGHT FURLOUGH DAYS, SO I THINK WHAT LINDA SAID IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THIS MONEY FLOATS EVERY DISTRICT AS IT HAS, POTLATCH OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT RESTORING SOME OF THOSE FURLOUGH DAYS.

AND GETTING THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL FOR THE CUTS.

I THINK THAT PATRONS OF THE WOMAN THAT JUST CALLED IN, SHE HAS A RIGHT TO SAY, I RAISE MY TAXES, I PASSED A LEVEE, NOW THE STATE GETS THIS MONEY AND WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING IT INTO A SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

THAT'S WRONG.

AND THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO LIVE UP TO THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION AND THE OATH THEY TOOK AND FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN A THOROUGH MANNER.

>> LET ME GET TO -- >> MAY I RESPOND?

>> SURE.

>> LET'S GO TO GEOFF THEN MARK AND I WILL GET MY PHONE CALL.

GEOFF.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK SHERRI IS CORRECT IN THE SENSE THAT EVERYONE IS SYMPATHETIC, EVERYONE, TO ALL OF THE EDUCATORS THAT ARE WHOAFULLY UNDER COMPENSATED FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THEY DO EVERY YEAR, WE'RE SYMPATHETIC TO THAT.

AND EVERYONE, NOT JUST TEACHERS, EVERYONE IN OUR DISTRICT TOOK SIGNIFICANT SALARY CUTS.

THE CONCERN IS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MADISON SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE BOARD OF TRUCESTIES LOOKED AT THAT MONEY AND WE DISCUSSED IT AND KNOWING THAT WE HAD SOME TIME, THEY WANTED TO JUST DELIBERATE AND WAIT A FEW MONTHS TO SEE HOW THE ECONOMIC FORCES PLAY OUT.

WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY RIGHT NOW.

THEY KNEW WHERE THEY ARE, SO THEY MADE A VERY PRAGMATIC STEP IN MY OPINION, TO WAIT AND SEE AND THEN YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THAT MONEY IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, WHATEVER, AND RESTORE A DAY HERE OR THERE, AND THEY WANT TO DO THAT, BUT THE CONCERN IS WHAT OCCURS NEXT YEAR.

EVEN IF WE RESTORE DAYS THIS YEAR, THEN WE TURN AROUND AND HAVE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL CUTS NEXT YEAR, IF LEGISLATURE DOESN'T COME FORWARD AND ADEQUATELY FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND THAT JUST REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

BUT I THINK THAT BOARDS OF TRUSTEES ARE TRUSTEES IN TRUST, AND THEY'RE DOING THE VERY BEST THEY CAN AND THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR TEACHERS AND THEIR STAFF AS WELL.

SO THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF -- NOT TRYING TO BE STINGY, IT IS MORE WAIT AND SEE AND PROTECT THESE PEOPLE.

>> OKAY.

MARK, DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING OR SHOULD BY TO THE CALL IN.

>> I WOULD ONLY ADD TO THAT THAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT AS A TRUSTEE, MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE CHILD, AND THAT'S MY PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY.

AND IN LOOKING AT MY PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY, I LOOK AT WHO I HAVE TO BRING TO E CHILD TO HELP THEM.

I HAVE TO NOT ONLY BRING A TEACH EVERY, BUT AN ADMINISTRATOR, STAFF PERSONS, BUS DRIVERS, AND I HAVE PAY TROT TRONS.

I HAVE -- I HAVE PAY TROLL PATR.

I HAVE A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE I REPRESENT AND TAKE INPUT FROM.

AND GEOFF IS CREDIT CARD, CORREK AT A FROM A WHOLISTIC STANDPOINT.

NOT JUST THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO BET 51 MILLION, THAT IS 51 MILLION AGAINST A SHORT FALL OF 77 WE STILL HAVE TO COVER.

NOW WE'RE LOSING ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WERE THERE FOR TWO YEARS, AND WE TALK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF, WELL, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR STATEWIDE REVENUES.

YES, THEY MAY BE IMPROVING, BUT ARE THEY GOING TO IMPROVE ENOUGH TO COVER EDUCATION?

BESIDES EDUCATION, DON'T WE ALSO HAVE TO COVER HEALTH AND WELFARE, DON'T WE HAVE TO COVER MEDICAID, DON'T WE HAVE TO COVER TRANSPORTATION?

WE'RE COMPETING FOR DOLLARS AROUND THE STATE WITH THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT NEED THOSE DOLLARS.

I BELIEVE IT IS VERY PRUDENT TO WAIT, WHETHER IT'S A MONTH OR TWO OR THREE OR WHATEVER THE TIME PERIOD IS, IN ORDER TO SEE WHERE YOU'RE AT BECAUSE THE CLIFF IS THERE, WE'RE FAST APPROACHING IT AND WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR IT.

>> I WANT TO GET CALL IN, THEN I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME COMMENTS HERE.

WILL IN IDAHO FALLS.

WILL?

>> I WAS CALLING UP BECAUSE WITH THE LAST LEGISLATION I WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF PLEASED THAT THE WAY THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED DISTRICTS TO STRETCH THE MONEY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

SO WHAT DID THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS PLAN TO SPEND THE FUNDS ON AND HOW THEY PLAN TO SAVE SOME OF THAT MONEY FOR THE NEXT YEAR?

>> THERE'S SOME REAL -- ON WHAT YOU CAN SPEND THE MONEY ON, WHAT CAN YOU SPEND THE MONEY ON?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, CONGRESS WAS VERY CLEAR IN WHAT THE FUNDS COULD BE SPENT FOR.

THEY WERE ALSO EQUALLY CLEAR IN WHAT THEY COULD NOT BE SPENT FOR.

THEY COULD NOT BE SPENT FOR THE STATE TO BACK-FILL, TO TUCK AWAY FROM A RAINY DAY, AND IT IS VERY CLEAR THEY MUST BE SPENT ON SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR TEACHERS AND BUILDING LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS.

>> THE DISTRICT OFFICE.

>> THE DISTRICT OFFICE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 70 PEOPLE IN OUR OFFICE WHO, AT THIS POINT, STILL HAVE THE FULL SEVEN-DAY CUT IN THEIR SALARIES.

IT ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE LANGUAGE WAS VERY CLEAR THAT WHILE WE HAVE 27 MONTHS TO SPEND IT, AS WE RESEARCHED IT, OUR BOARD FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT IT WAS CLEAR THAT 2 IT WAS INTENDED TO RESTOE THE POSITIONS CUT THIS YEAR AND RESTORE THE SCHOOL DAYS CUT THIS YEAR.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE DID.

OF COURSE, WITH, AS I SAID, A HEDGE, NOT SPENDING ALL OF THE MONEY.

IF CUTS ARE COMING NEXT YEAR, WE REALLY FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO WHAT WE COULD DO FOR OUR STIE STAFF NOW, AND THEN IF THEY HAVE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL CUTS NEXT YEAR, THEY'RE STILL CUT THIS YEAR.

WE COULD NOT RESTORE IT ALL.

BUT THE MONAL WAS VERY CLEARLY -- THE MONEY WAS VERY CLEARLY EARMARKED FOR THAT.

SOMEONE HAS TO BE FIRST BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE WERE FIRST HASTE BECAUSE OR BOARD RESEARCHED IT AND WE WERE DELIBERATE ABOUT OUT RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE THEY TOOK ACTION.

>> I WANT TO THROW OUT SORT OF A CHICKEN AND EGG PROBLEM.

IF THE DISTRICTS HOLD ON TO THE MONEY AND SAY WE KNOW THIS CLIFF IS GOING TO COME NEXT YEAR, HOLD ON, DOESN'T THAT JUST GIVE THE THRONES THOSE LEGISLATORS WHO DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE FDING EDUCATION AT LEVELS, SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE ALL THIS MONEY IN THE BANK, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FUND YOU, WE WILL SPEND THE MONEY ON OTHER PRIORITIES?

DIDN'T KIND OF A CHICKEN AND EGG PROBLEM?

OF COURSE, I GUESS THE OTHER END OF THAT CHICKEN AND EGG, YOU SPEND ALL THE MONEY AND THEN THE BIG HITS COME.

>> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING.

IF WE SAVE THE MONEY NOW, IT IS IN THE HANDS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW.

THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T HAVE ANY ABILITY TO SPEND THIS MONEY.

IT'S NOW OUT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WHATEVER EACH DISTRICT RECEIVED, RECEIVES, THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION AND THE TEACHERS ARE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SPEND IT.

BUT IF WE BANK IT ALL, MY GUESS IS THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LINE AND SAY, WELL, WE BANKED 40,000 OF THAT 51 MILLION, 40 MILLION OF THE 51 MILLION, AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TAKE THAT RIGHT OFF THE TOP AND SAY, WELL THAT'S 40 MILLION WE DON'T HAVE TO COME UP WITH.

AND SO I BELIEVE THAT SINCE THE LAW WAS PAPSED, TUESDAY THIS YEAR, WE SHOULD BE USING IT THIS YEAR.

THE KIDS THIS YEAR ARE JUST AS PARENT AS THE ONES THIS YEAR AND THE ONES LAST YEAR -- JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE ONES THIS YEAR AND THE ONES LAST YEAR.

>> MARK, DO YOU FEAR THAT CHICKEN AND EGG PROBLEM?

>> NO I DON'T FEAR IT AT ALL.

YOUR QUESTION PRESUMED THAT LEGISLATURE, IN FACT YOU USED THE PHRASE THAT THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO NOT FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS A SINGLE LEGISLATOR IN THIS STATE THAT DOESN'T WANT TO FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND I BELIEVE FIRMLY THAT THEY WANT TO FUND IT TO THE FULLEST OF THEIR ABILITY.

BUT THEIR ABILITY HAS BEEN LIMITED, AS WELL.

TRUSTEES ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR STAFF, WHETHER THEY -- THE STAFF BE ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHER, CUSTODIANS OR BUS DRIVERS, THEY WANT TO PROVIDE FOR THEM SO WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A THOROUGH AND COMPLETE EDUCATION FOR THE STUDENTS.

>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO SUGGEST THERE ARE LEGISLATORS THAT DON'T WANT TO FUND EDUCATION AT PROPER LEVELS, THERE ARE SOME THAT THINK THE LOWER LEVELS ARE MORE APPROPRIATE SO THAT QUESTION OF APPROPRIATENESS IS STILL A QUESTION AND BY HAVING MONEY IN THE BANK DOESN'T THAT GIVE THEM MORE FREEDOM -- >> JOAN, I DO, IF I COULD WEIGHN THIS.

IT WOULD BE SHORT SIGHTED FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO SAY THEY'VE GONE 40 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR WHATEVER, THAT IS ONE-TIME MONEY.

SHERRI WAS CORRECT SAYING THE CHILDREN TODAY ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS TOMORROW OR NEXT YEAR OR DOWN THE ROAD.

THE LEGISLATURE'S RESPONSIBILITY IS FOR ADEQUATE FUNDING AND REASONABLE FUNDING FOR THE ON GOING, FOR THE FUTURE,O STABILIZE FUNDING THIS YEAR, TO STABILIZE FUNDING NEXT YEAR.

TO LOOK AT FEDERAL FUNDS AND SAY, WELL, THEY HAVE A GOT THIS AND THEY DON'T NEED THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I AGREE WITH MARK.

I THINK THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE MOST PART THEY'RE GOOD HEARTED PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THEIR LEVEL BEST TO COME UP WITH MONEY THE BEST WAY THEY CAN, BUT TO LOOK AT IT -- THAT'S VERY SHORT SIGHTED AND I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THE JUST SAID, WELL, WE'LL JUST CUT MORE BECAUSE THIS FEDERAL MONEY IS ONE TIME.

THE ARRA MONEY IS ESSENTIALLY ONE TIME.

AND SO WE -- >> LET ME FLIP THAT AROUND ON THE OTHER SIDE, HOW DO YOU ARGUE THAT THOSE PEOPLE -- PEOPLE IN HEALTH AND WELFARE, DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, PEOPLE REALLY HIT, WHY SHOULD THEY BE HIT WHEN EDUCATION HAS THAT MONEY.

WHY DON'T WE SPREAD IT AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND GIVE THEM A BREAK?

>> BY USING -- >> YOU'VE GOT MONEY IN THE BANK, YOU CAN -- WE CANNOT GIVE YOU MONEY THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DIDN'T FUND MENTAL SERVICES TO THE POOR AND DISABLED AS WELL AS WE COULD HAVE.

LET'S USE SOME OF THAT MONEY THERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE' GOT SOME.

THAT IS THE OTHER PART OF THE CHICKEN AND EGG SYNDROME.

>> AN INTERESTING CONCEPT, THE LEGISLATURE FOR YEARS HAS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT FUND BALANCES THAT DISTRICTS HAVE HAD, THAN FACT, MOST, IF NOT ALL -- WELL, MOST OF THE DISTRICTS HAVE HAD TO SPEND THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF THAT YOU ARE FUND BALANCE TO EVEN KEEP OPERATIONS GOING.

BACK TO THE CALLER'S QUESTION, THIS MONEY DOES NOTHING TO RESTORE, IN OUR CASE, THE $11.5 MILLION THAT WAS CUT OR THE $4 MILLION THAT WAS SHIFTED FROM OUR PLANT FACILITY TO THE GENERAL FUND, OR AS GEOFFREY SAID, I THINK HE SAID 700,000 OR 750,000 THAT WAS CUT FROM THE GENERAL FUND SO THOSE CUTS NUT PLACE, AS A RESULT THE LEGISLATURE'S ACTIONS WERE STILL THERE.

THIS IS MONEY IN A VERY NARROW DEFINITION IN TERMS OF WHAT IT CAN BE USED FOR.

WE ARE ALL STILL -- WE ALL STILL HAVE THOSE VERY DRACONIAN CUTS.

>> JOY IN CORDELANE.

>> I UNDERSTAND IT, IT IS UP TO EACH DISTRICT TO DECIDE HOW THIS FEDERAL MONEY IS SPENT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HOW AS CITIZENS WE ENSURE IT IS SPENT EFFECTIVELY AND WILL THE DISTRICT BE POSTING DATA ON-LINE ON HOW THEY SPEND THESE FUNDS?

>> OKAY.

>> THE SIMPLE ANSWER TO THAT IS, YES, THE DISTRICT WILL.

THERE WAS A BILL PASSED THIS LAST YEAR BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE THAT ALLOWS AND OBLIGATES THE DISTRICTS TO POST THAN CHECKBOOK, ESSENTIALLY, ON THE WEB.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE START-UPDATE ON THAT, MAYBE LINDA OR GEOFF YOU CAN HELP ME.

I KNOW THE LAW IS IN EFFECT NOW BUT I DON'T THINK OUR WEBSITES HAVE TO BE UP UNTIL MAYBE NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

BUT MOST DISTRICTS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT NOW.

THE OTHER THING, YOU TALK ABOUT EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DOLLAR, THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE QUESTION BECAUSE A DOLLAR IS SPENT WISE FLEE MANY DIFFERENT FORMS, WHETHER IT BE IN PROVIDING FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES OR TRANSPORTATION.

THESE DOLLARS HAVE TO BE SPENT SPECIFICALLY ON SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES.

AND SO IT'S ADDED TO THE GROUP OF DOLLARS THAT YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS.

AND IT IS IN THE SAME FORMAT AS THE DOLLAR THAT YOU HAVE I YOUR WALLET, WHETHER IT COME FROM YOUR WALLET OR YOUR HUSBAND'S WALLET, WHETHER IT COMES FROM A WAGE OR SOCIAL SECURITY, IT IS A RESOURCE THAT YOU USE WISELY AND PRUDENTLY, AT LEAST THAT IS THE PRESUMPTION.

AND CERTAINLY MOST DISTRICTS ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO USE THOSE DOLLARS WISELY.

>> IT'S NICE TO HAVE THE FEDERAL MONEY.

HOW COMPLICATEIT GOING TO BE TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE CHANGES NOW THAT THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS GOTTEN STARTED.

AND WE REALLY ONLY HAVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES LEFT.

>> I JUST LEARNED TONIGHT THAT WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT MADE DECISION, SO I GUESS I'LL ANSWER.

WE ADDED THOSE DAYS BACK IN AT THE END OF THE YEAR BY ADDING THREE SCHOOL DAYS, EXTENDING THE ENDING DAY OF SCHOOL, THREE DAYS LONGER, AND THEN TWO ADDITIONAL DAYS FOR TEACHERS, SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THAT TIME TO LOOK AT ACHIEVEMENT SCORES, MAKE PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR AND SO ON.

SO FROM THAT POINT IT WAS NOT DIFFICULT.

I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE HOLDS BUDGET HEARINGS, PUBLIC HEARINGS, PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADOPTS THE BUDGET, AND THAT IS THE CITIZEN'S OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND FWHAIG ON WEIGH IN ON WHAT S IN THIS CASE WERE, WHAT THE EXPENDITURES ARE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE EXPENDITURE OF THE PUBLIC, OF THE FEDERAL J JOB'S MONEY IS VERY PUBLIC.

EVERY PAPER, EVERY MEDIA OUTLET IS COVERING HOW EACH DISTRICT HANDLES THAT, SO I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THAT INFORMATION.

>> AND IN FACT, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH MONEY YOUR DISTRICT IS RECEIVING OR YOUR CHARTER SCHOOL GO TO THE "DIALOGUE" WEBSITE, GO TO IDAHOPTV.ORG/DIALOGUE, OR CLICK ON "DIALOGUE", WE HAVE A TABLE SET FORTH THAT SHOWS PROPOSED CUTS EACH DISTRICT HAD AND IN THE LAST COLUMN IT IS HOW MUCH FEDERAL MONEY THEY WILL BE RECEIVING SO YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND FIND THAT INFORMATION OUT.

IT IS AVAILABLE THERE AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO YOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ARE, INTRODUCE YOURSELF, IF YOU ARE A PARENT, A TAXPAYER, KNOW WHO THEY ARE, KNOW WHO YOUR LEGISLATOR IS AND MAKE SURE YOU VOTE AT THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION ON TUESDAY.

OUR TIME HAS FLOWN BY, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO MARK MOORER IN MOSS KAYE.

AND LINDA CLARK AND SHERRI WOOD HERE IN BOISE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IDAHO'S SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS, GO TO THE DIALOGUE WEB SITE.

GO TO IDAHOPTV.ORG,LICK ON GUINKS IN OUR WEB-ONLY CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WILL GET INTO RIGHT AFTER THE SHOW CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON FACEBOOK.

SEARCH FOR "DIALOGUE" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND BECOME A FAN.

OR LOOK FOR OUR SHOWS ON LINE ON IDAHO PUBLICELEVION OR ON YOUTUBE.

THANKS FOR TUNING IN.

JOIN US HERE NEXT TIME FOR "DIALOGUE."