>>> 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.

>>> IT WAS A BIG WEEK FOR EDUCATION POLICY PROPOSALS, INCLUDING A LONG-AWAITED FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN PITCH.

BUT WHICH BILLS WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE GAUNTLET I'M MELISSA DAVLIN.

IDAHO REPORTS STARTS NOW.

-- "IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

>>> HELLO AND WELCOME.

THIS WEEK REPRESENTATIVE WENDY HORMAN AND JANIE WARD-ENGELKING DISCUSS SCHOOL CHOICE, FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, AND SCHOOL POLICY AND FUNDING ISSUES THIS YEAR.

KEVIN RICHERT JOINS US ON THE PANEL TO GIVE US A RUNDOWN OF A WHIRLWIND WEEK AFTER THE STATE HOUSE.

>>> BUT FIRST, ON TUESDAY, THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE DEACTIVATED CRISIS STANDARDS OF CARE FOR HOSPITALS IN THREE OF THE SEVEN PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS.

THE DEPARTMENT HAD ACTIVATED CRISIS STANDARDS OF CARE IN THOSE DISTRICTS ON JANUARY 15TH, DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND BLOOD SUPPLY.

>>> IN LEGISLATIVE NEWS, ON WEDNESDAY THE HOUSE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE NARROWLY ENDORSED A BILL TO GUARANTEE IN-PERSON VISITATION AT ASSISTED LIVING AND NURSING FACILITIES.

THAT PROPOSAL WAS IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, THAT AMONG OTHER THINGS LIMITED IN-PERSON VISITATION AT THOSE FACILITIES.

LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES -- LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE SHARED EMOTIONAL STORIES ABOUT LOVED ONES WHO NEEDED THE CARE OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> I LOST MY MOTHER IN DECEMBER.

SHE WAS IN THE ICU FOR THREE WEEKS.

AND THEY HAD A POLICY THAT ONLY ONE PERSON PER DAY COULD COME IN.

AND SO A LOT OF OUR MONTH, A LOT OF OUR BIGGEST SOURCE OF ANGUISH WAS ACTUALLY STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS POLICY AND MAKE SURE THAT I AND MY HUSBAND AND ALL OF MY KIDS COULD GET IN.

BUT THE STAFF WAS EXTREMELY COMPASSIONATE.

I SHOULDN'T -- IT'S TOO FRESH.

>> NO.

>> BUT THE STAFF, THEY WERE VERY COMPASSIONATE.

THEY WERE NOT TRYING TO TORTURE ANYBODY.

THEY WERE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE AS BEST THEY COULD, THEY WERE TRYING TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILY WITH THE HEALTH CONCERNS OF THE ENTIRE WARD AND OF MY MOTHER.

>> TWICE.

THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH MY MOTHER.% WHERE SHE IS.

TWICE.

I ABSOLUTELY THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF PROTECTION FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN THESE FACILITIES BECAUSE THERE IS NONE NOW.

WHEN YOU DRILL DOWN TO THIS LEGISLATION, IT REALLY DOES TWO THINGS.

ONE, IT MAKES SURE THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED IN-PERSON WITH YOUR LOVED ONES, AND TWO, IT DOESN'T HOLD LOVED ONES TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN DOES THE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE FACILITY.

>> THE COMMIT VOTED 6-5 TO SEND THE HOUSE TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

>>> REPRESENTATIVE GREG CHANEY PITCHED A BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE CONFIDENT SHALT THAT ANYBODY -- CONFIDENTIALITY.

THE BILL WOULD EXEMPT THE NAMES OF ANY COMPANIES SUPPLYING DRUGS USED IN LETHAL INJECTION, FROM PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS.

>> THE PROBLEM IS THAT CURRENTLY, OUR ABILITY TO CARRY OUT THE SENTENCE THAT HAS BEEN IMPOSED IS IMPAIRED.

AND IT'S IMPAIRED BY AN INABILITY TO PROCURE THE LETHAL INJECTION DRUGS WITHOUT PROTECTIONS PROVIDED TO THE IDENTITY OF THOSE WHO PROVIDE THEM.

>> IF THIS BILL DOESN'T GO THROUGH, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND SUPPORT THE RETURN OF FIRING SQUADS.

LESS COMPLICATED AND YOU MAY HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THAT IN THIS ROOM.

BUT AS A FORMER PROSECUTOR WHO'S MET THE -- MET ONE MURDERER CASE TO -- FACE TO FACE ALONE AFTER THE MURDER AND SEEING THE VICTIMS -- THOSE ARE FLOODING BACK TO ME, I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION BROUGHT BY OUR CHAIRMAN.

>> WE HAVE ALWAYS CLASSIFIED CERTAIN KINDS OF ACTIONS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THOSE ACTIONS.

AND WE HAVE NEVER ACCEPTED THE IDEA THAT THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW EVERY DETAIL OF WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT DOES.

>> I TRUST THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OUT MY TRASH.

I DON'T TRUST THEM TO KILL PEOPLE IN SECRET PROCESSES.

AND I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS IDEA.

WHEN I READ THE ARTICLE THAT REPRESENTATIVE NATE WAS TALKING ABOUT, I PROBABLY NEVER BEEN MORE EMBARRASSED TO BE AN IDAHOAN WHEN I FIND OUT HOW OUR GOVERNMENT HANDLED THE LAST EXECUTION.

>> THAT BILL MADE IT OUT OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE IN A 9-5 VOTE AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

>>> WE HAVE MORE ONLINE.

YOU'LL FIND THE LINK TO OUR COVERAGE AT WBZ AT THE WEBSITE.

p>>> WE'VE TOLD YOU ABOUT FRUSTRATION FROM SOME LAWMAKERS ABOUT COMMITTEE CHAIRS DECLINING TO HEAR THEIR BILLS.

ON WEDNESDAY THAT FRUSTRATION BOILED OVER ONCE AGAIN WITH ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO PULL ON TO THE FLOOR A BILL TO REPEAL THE SALES TAX ON GROCERIES.

>> I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRYING TO REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

WE ALL KNEW COMING INTO THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THERE WERE IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING IDAHOANS.

THEY'VE BEEN LETTING US KNOW FOR OVER A YEAR.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THINGS LIKE MEDICAL FREEDOM, ELECTION INTEGRITY, AND YES, GROCERY TAX REPEAL.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE HIGH ON THE LIST THAT IDAHOANS WANT TO HAVE DEALT WITH FOR THEM.

>> THAT ATTEMPT FAILED WITH THE HOUSE VOTING 49-16 TO KEEP THE BILL IN COMMITTEE.

>>> ALSO THIS WEEK, SENATE STATE AFFAIRS MOVED FORT AN ANTI-ABORTION BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW A WOMAN'S FAMILY MEMBERS TO SUE AN ABORTION PROVIDER WITHOUT THE WOMAN'S PERMISSION.

THAT LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE FETUS TO SUE A PROVIDER FOR DAMAGES OF AT LEAST $20,000 IF THEY PROVIDE AN UNLAWFUL ABORTION.

>> THIS NEW PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM IS MODELED AFTER THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT LAW, WHICH HAS SUCCESSFULLY WITHSTOOD THREE LEGAL CHALLENGES AT THE SUPREME COURT.

MOST NOTABLY, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DISMISSED A LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST TEXAS STATE OFFICIALS CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THEIR LAW.

AND THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR US.

HERE IN IDAHO, SINCE THAT MEANS IT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY HARD TO CHALLENGE THIS LEGISLATION IF IT WERE TO BECOME LAW.

>> THE THING THAT CANNOT BE CORRECTED IS THE DETERMINATION OF THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS LEGISLATION TO MAKE ABORTION IN IDAHO AT LEAST AFTER SIX WEEKS IMPOSSIBLE, NOTWITHSTANDING% TODAY'S CURRENT LIABILITY OF ROE VS. WADE.

AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.

THAT'S LIKE HAVING A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TRY TO ENFORCE IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR A STATUTE THAT WE PASSED THAT TAKES EFFECT ON JULY 1ST.

IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL ON ITS FACE.

WE ARE GOING TO -- IF THIS PASSES, THIS LEGISLATURE WILL BE PASSING A BILL THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL ON ITS FACE.

>> IT NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR A FULL VOTE.

LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROHIBIT TAXING DISTRICTS FROM RUNNING A REPEAT BOND REQUEST WITHIN 11 MONTHS OF A FAILED BOND ELECTION.

>> THIS BILL IS TO PROTECT CITIZENS FROM AGGRESSIVE TAXING DISTRICTS.

IT DOESN'T SINGLE OUT ANY PARTICULAR DISTRICT.

ONLY DISTRICTS THAT REFUSE TO HEAR THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

>> THE PROBLEM IS WE JUST CAN'T GET MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO FUND OUR SCHOOLS.

WHAT IF WE HAVE AN OLD BUILDING?

A DILAPIDATED ONE OR WE NEED TO BUILD ONE BECAUSE OF GROWTH?

BONDS ARE THE ONLY TOOL THAT WE HAVE TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

>> I SERVED AS THE CHAIRMAN OF A LONG-RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE WHEN WE BUILT THE SCHOOL -- [INAUDIBLE] .

AND WE HAD A GOOD CONTORTION OF PEOPLE.

INPUT.

WE THOUGHT WE HAD A GOOD IDEA BUT IT WASN'T QUITE RIGHT YET.

AND WHEN -- WHEN WE WENT TO THE PEOPLE, THEY VOTED YES.

BUT THEN WE NEEDED A SUPPLEMENTAL AND WE HAD TO GO BACK AND ASK AGAIN, AND PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS TELL YOU WHAT THEY THINK WHEN YOU ASK THEM, BUT THEY WILL WITH A BALLOT.

>> I'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN MY DISTRICT, WHERE BONDS ARE CONTINUALLY RAN.

AND PEOPLE GET -- THEY GET VOTER FATIGUE.

AND WHEN THEY DO IT DURING THE SUMMERTIME WHEN THERE'S HARDLY ANYONE AROUND, THEN THAT SEEMS TO BE WHEN THEY -- WHEN THEY WILL PASS AT LEAST IN MY DISTRICT.

SO I THINK THIS IS GOOD FOR TAXPAYERS.

I THINK IT DOES CAUSE REFLECTION ON WHAT'S CRUCIAL AND IMPORTANT AND WHAT'S NECESSARY.

I THINK IT WILL SAVE MONEY AND HOPEFULLY THAT TRICKLES DOWN TO OUR TERRANCE ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

-- TAXPAYERS ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A ROUND-ABOUT WAY TOE PROPERTY TAX SAVINGS.

>> THAT BILL PASSED THE HOUSE ON THURSDAY.

JOINING ME TO DISCUSS AND OTHER ISSUES ARE REPRESENTATIVE WENDY HORMAN, SENATOR JANIE WARD-ENGELKING, AND KEVIN RICHERT OF IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS.

REPRESENTATIVE HORMAN, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOU SUPPORTED THE LEGISLATION ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

WHY?

>> I DID.

BEFORE I CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE, I'VE BEEN HERE 10 YEARS, I SERVED TO A SCHOOL BOARD FOR 11 YEARS.

THE BONNEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS IN RAPID PERIOD OF GROWTH.

AND WE PASSED SEVERAL BONDS DURING MY TIME ON THE BOARD.

THEY ALL PASSED THE FIRST TIME.

WE FELT LIKE WE WENT OUT AND DID THE HOMEWORK.

AND THIS INCLUDED DURING THE GREAT RECESSION.

WE WENT OUT AND DID THE HOMEWORK OF MAKING SURE WE KNEW WHERE OUR COMMUNITY WAS.

AND MY VOTE WAS A WAY TO ENCOURAGE SCHOOL BOARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO THAT HOMEWORK IN ADVANCE.

SO THEY ARRIVE AT A CONSENSUS BILL.

I HAD AN AUNT LOSE HER HOME DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS DUE TO PROPERTY TAXES.

AND SHE WANTED TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS BUT EVENTUALLY SHE JUST COULDN'T.

SHE HAD TO SELL HER HOME AND MOVE INTO AN APARTMENT.

AND SO I THINK THOSE UNFIX -- ON FIXED INCOMES STRUGGLE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD IN THE PROCESS.

SO I THINK IT WILL ENCOURAGE AGGRESSIVE TAXES DIRECTIG -- TAXING DISTRICTS OF ALLST SOS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE -- ALL SORT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE CHECKING IN WITH THE CITIZENS BEFORE TRYING TO RUN SOMETHING THAT TOOPS TOO MANY IN THEIR COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD.

>> IF THERE'S AN OVERRELIANCE ON THE LOCAL BONDS AND LEVEES, IS THAT AN ARGUMENT FOR PUTTING MORE STATE MONEY OR PARAMUN IN THE SCHOOLS?

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING THIS YEAR.

OVER 300 MILLION DOLLARS THE SCHOOLS HAVE RECEIVED 440 OF JUST ARPA FUNDING.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I INTRODUCED MY SUPPLEMENTAL BILL, WHICH JUST ASKS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS DISCLOSE WHAT THEY'RE LEAVE -- LEVEEING FOR AND THE AMOUNT, SO THAT AS THE STATE PICKS UP THESE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES AT THE STATE LEVEL, SUCH AS HEALTH INSURANCE AND POSSIBLY KINDERGARTEN, LITERACY.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT LOOKS.

THAT TAXPAYERS AREN'T ALSO PAYING FOR IT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> SENATOR, I'M CURIOUS WHERE YOU ARE ON THAT 11-MONTH WAITING PERIOD.

IF DISTRICTS HAVE A FAILED BOND, WHY SHOULD THEY BE IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO BRING THAT TO VOTERS AGAIN?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE IF MOST RESTRICTIVE -- MOST RESTRICTIVE BOND PASSING RESTRICTIONS.

IT TAKES TWO-THIRDS OF OUR PEOPLE TO PASS A BOND.

AND OUR SURROUNDING STATES ARE MOSTLY 50% PLUS ONE.

WASHINGTON IS 60%.

BUT WE DO HAVE THE MOST RESTRICTIVE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND I THINK RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SEENG SKYROCKETING PROPERTY TAXES.

AND SO THE REALITY IS, WE DO HAVE TO RELY UNFORTUNATELY ON BONDS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

IT SHOULD BE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE DISTRICTS THAT CAN PASS BONDS AND LEVEES AND DISTRICTS THAT CAN'T.

WE'VE CREATED A HAVE AND HAVE NOT SYSTEM THAT IS REALLY NOT GOOD.

BUT AS FAR AS -- 11-MONTH BILL HAS NOT COME TO THE SENATE YET.

BUT I'M -- I PROBABLY WOULD BE NOT IN FAVOR OF IT BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES IF A VOTE IS VERY CLOSE, AND IF IT'S OVER 50% OF THE PEOPLE SAYING YES, WE NEED THIS, THEN I WOULD LIKE THEM TO HAVE A CHANCE TO BRING IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE, DO A LITTLE BIT MORE EDUCATION, MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE GROWING RAPIDLY.

AND WE NEED NEW SCHOOLS IN IDAHO.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY WAY TO GET THAT DONE IS THROUGH A BOND.

AND AS FAR AS THE LEVEES, THAT IS A 50%-PLUS ONE.

SO I DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT THE -- BUT THE BONDS ARE VERY DIFFICULT AND THEY MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE A SECOND RUN AT IT.

>> BUT I'M GOING TO BE VERY CURIOUS O SEE WHAT HAPPENSES NEXT MONTH.

-- HAPPENS NEXT MONTH.

HISTORICALLY MARCH IS THE BIG ELECTION DATE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO RUN SUP PRINTAL -- SUPPLEMENTAL LEVEES.

AND THESE REQUIRE A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

REALLY BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE SUPPLEMENTALS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SESSION WHERE THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES.

IN THE MIDDLE OF A TIME WHERE A LOT OF IDAHOANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE POLLS.

>> AND ANOTHER THING I GUESS THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS THERE IS JUST AN OPE STUDY DONE FOR THE LEGISLATURE -- >> OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE EVILIATION.

>> YES -- EVIL.

>> YES, AND -- EVALUATION.

>> YES, AND IN THAT STUDY IT SAID 70% OF OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FAIR OR POOR.

IT WOULD TAKE $879 MILLION JUST TO BRING THEM UP TO A STATUS OF GOOD.

AND THAT SHOULD BE CONCERNING TO ALL OF US.

THERE ARE -- OUR SCHOOLS ARE AGING AND MORE DIFFICULT NOW TO PASS A BOND.

SO WE REALLY DO HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME OTHER WAYS OF FUNDING SCHOOLS IN OUR STATE.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M CURIOUS, WE'VE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT RAISING TEACHER PAY AND PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO SCHOOLS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WHAT ABOUT STUDENT OUTCOMES?

ARE THERE ANY POLICY PROPOSALS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY TIED TO MONEY AND PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO SCHOOLS THAT ARE AIMED AT IMPROVING THOSE LITERACY RATES, IMPROVING THE GRAD QAITION AND GO -- GRADUATION AND GO ON RATES?

>> I JUST READ A BOOK LAST MONTH QUAD "THE CENTRALISM."

WE DO NOT RISE TO THE DEVELOP OF OUR -- LEVEL OF OUR GOALS.

WE FALL TO THE LEVEL OF OUR SYSTEMS.

SO WE HAVE SET ASPIRATIONAL 60% WITH A CREDENTIAL OR SEEING.

BUT I WE DON'T HAVE -- OR DEGREE.

BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE -- I DO THINK NEED IMPROVED.

ONE OF THOSE IS THE K-12 FUNDING FORMULA.

NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE HERE THAT THAT'S A CONCERN OF MINE.

THERE ARE TREMENDOUS INEQUITIES IN THAT.

AND A LOT OF THEM ARE RELATED TO PROPERTY WEALTH.

MORE PROPERTY WEALTHY DISTRICTS GET MORE FUNDING UNDER THE CURRENT FORMULA AND THAT'S A STRUGGLE FOR ME.

AND I DID TRY TO CHANGE THAT WHEN.

-- WHEN I COULDN'T I MOVED TO A DIFFERENT FORM TO GIVE THAT ONE DIRECTLY TO PREANTS.

-- PARENTS.

AND THAT BILL CAME OUT OF HOUSE EDUCATION UNANIMOUSLY THIS WEEK EMPOWERING PARENTS.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME SYSTEMS WE NEED TO CHANGE SO WE CAN GET AWAY FROM TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY TO ARE WE USING THE MONEY.

>> I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE HORMAN.

OUR FUNDING FORMULA NEEDS WORK AND WE KNOW THAT AND WE MADE AN EFFORT AND IT'S PROBABLY TIME TO GO BACK AND TRY AGAIN, BECAUSE SOMETIMES -- CHANGE IS SLOW IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND WE MAY HAVE TO JUST KEEP PLUGGING AWAY ON THAT.

BUT WE KNOW WE NEED TO MOVE FROM AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE TO ENROLLMENT AND THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME INEQUITIES, AT-RISK CHILDREN NEED MORE FUNDING TO GO TOWARDS HELPING GET GET UP TO SPEED AND CAUGHT FOUL PLAY WHERE WE WANT THEM TO BE -- CAUGHT UP TO WHERE WE WANT THEM TO BE.

THAT'S NOT NEW AND WE KNOW THAT AND WE WORKED HARD AND PROBABLY NEED TO DO SOME MORE WORK AND TRY TO GET THAT THROUGH.

>> IF THE SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING FOR SOME OF THOSE AT-RISK STUDENTS, IS MORE MONEY AT THE SYSTEM THE SOLUTION OR SHOULD THAT MONEY BE GOING TOWARDS THE FAMILIES SO THEY CAN PUT THEM IN A SCHOOL OR IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FITS THEM AND THEIR GOALS BETTER?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY, SCHOOL CHOICE IS IMPORTANT.

AND I SUPPORT SCHOOL CHOICE.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE 41ST --51ST IN THE NATION IN FUNDING, I THINK IT MATTERS.

WE KNOW THAT MORE RESOURCES NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE AT RISK.

AND I THINK -- I'M CERTAINLY FINE WITH SENDING SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES ON PARENTS, BUT THE REALITY IS A LOT OF OUR PARENTS, WE HAVE PARENTS WORKING.

AND IN ORDER FOR THEM TO -- IT'S SENDING THEM MONEY ISN'T NECESSARILY GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE RESOURCES ARE IN PLACE, WHERE THEY CAN ACCESS THE -- THE TYPE OF EDUCATION THEY NEED.

AND WHETHER THAT'S AT HOME, PARENTS ALWAYS HAVE THAT CHOICE.

AND THEY SHOULD.

BUT WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE SURE WE'VE ALLOWED THAT OPTION WHERE IT'S AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.

>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE DOWN THE ROAD, IF THE EMPOWERING PARENTS, GRANTS PASSES THE LEGISLATURE AND GETS SIGNED INTO LAW, WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD LIKELIHOOD, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR SOME REPORTING AFTERWARDS.

SOME METRICS LOOKING AT WHAT HAS THIS DONE, WHERE DID THE MONEY GO, AND DID IT HELP STUDENT PREFERS -- PERFORMANCE, WHICH I THINK IS -- THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED.

$50 MILLION LATER.

>> AND IT DID PASS THE SENATE.

AND IT'S HEADED THERE.

I ASSUME IT WILL GO THROUGH THE HOUSE.

>> YEAH.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD JUST POINT OUT, I THINK ALL OF OUR DEFINITION OF THE WORD "SCHOOL HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

ON MARCH 13TH, 2020, THERE WAS A CELEBRATION WITH THE FIRST LADY AND MANY OF THE WOMEN OF THE LEGISLATURE HONORING THE PASSAGE OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT GRANTING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

AND A SENIOR FROM BOISE HIGH SCHOOL SPOKE THERE.

AND SHE SAID, SHE'D HAD AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TRIP AND SHE SAID MY DEFINITION OF SCHOOL CHANGED FROM A NONE TO A VERB -- A NOUN TO A VERB, BECAUSE IT WASN'T A PLACE.

IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE.

AND WITHIN DAYS, OUR SCHOOLS WERE NO LONGER -- SCHOOL AS A NOUN MEANT AN EMPTY BUILDING.

SCHOOL AS A VERB MEANT LEARN ANYWHERE YOU COULD.

AND SO WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED THAT IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

AND HONESTLY, THE IDEA FOR GIVING MONEY TO FAMILIES WHO NEED TO CHOOSE A DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE THAN THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IN PART CAME FROM WATCHING THE STRUGGLES YOU WERE HAVING IN DEALING WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND HOW TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE.

AND I -- I THOUGHT, WELL, WHY CAN'T WE GIVE EXTRA MONEY TO FAMILIES OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, TOO.

AND SO THAT BECAME THE GENESIS THEN OF ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION, STRONG FAMILY, STRONG STUDENTS, THE GOVERNOR TREMENDOUSLY -- OF SUPPORTING FAMILIES DURING THAT TIME.

AND NOW WE DO HAVE EMPOWERING PARENTS, WHICH I AGREE SHOULD COME OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR WITH STRONG SUPPORT.

>> AND I JUST -- YOU KNOW, NEED TO MAKE CLEAR.

AS MUCH AS MY FAMILY HAD A HARD TIME DURING THE PANDEMIC, SO MANY OTHER FAMILIES HAD IT WORSE BECAUSE WE COULD STILL WORK FROM HOME.

WE HAD THE FLEXIBILITY TO, YOU KNOW, LET MY OLDEST DISTANCE LEARN AND EVERYTHING AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY TAKING NO POSITION ON ANY POLICY STATEMENTS AS A REPORTER, JUST HAVING THAT PLATFORM AND KNOWING THAT SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE DIDN'T.

>> SENATOR, MY PARTNER ON THIS ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR AND HIS LEADERSHIP THIS YEAR HAD SOME FAMILIES IN HER AREA THAT SAME STRUGGLES.

AND THEY ENDED UP CREATING A MICROSCHOOL OR A PANDEMIC POD AS WE CALLED THEM.

AND SO SHE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS PARTNER IN THIS SPACE AS WELL.

>> I WOULD JUST SAY IF THE PANDEMIC TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT'S HOW IMPORTANT OUR SCHOOLS ARE AND THAT IN-PERSON LEARNING AND THAT ONE-ON-ONE CONTACT, WE KNOW THAT.

WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN IT.

BUT I THINK NOW IT'S EVEN MORE IMPERATIVE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THINGS IN PLACE SO THAT CHILDREN DON'T FEEL ISOLATED AND THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE THE FRIENDS AND THE CONDITION TACTS THAT THEY NEED -- CONTACT THAT IS THEY NEED.

>> THAT WAS HUGE.

>> TREMENDOUS LEARNING FROM COVID FOR ME, THAT WE MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK FOR INDIVIDUALS AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

>> SPEAKING OF MASSIVE PROPOSALS THAT WE MIGHT BE SEEING THIS YEAR, FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN GOT ITS FIRST INTRODUCTORY HEARING THIS PAST WEEK.

IN SENATE EDUCATION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.

YOU SAID ON -- SIT ON THAT COMMITTEE.

>> I DO, I DO.

>> CAN YOU TELL QHAWS THE BILL -- US WHAT THE BILL IS AND WHAT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS PROPOSALS WE'VE SEEN?

>> I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD BILL AND I THINK WE'VE GOT VERY GOOD SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I KNOW WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM FARM BUREAU AND FOOD PRODUCERS AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS.

SO IT'S -- AND CERTAINLY PARENTS.

THE THING THAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT IT IS WE DID CARVE OUT A LITTLE PIECE THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE IT'S STILL OPTIONAL.

IT'S NOT MANDATORY AND WE CARVED OUT SOMETHING THAT SAYS THAT PARENTS, IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO, THAT WE'LL MAKE SURE THE MATERIALS AND THINGS THAT THEY NEED ARE AVAILABLE.

ALSO, THAT IF THIS IS FULLY FUNDED, FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, FROM THE STATE, THEN IF YOU HAVE A LEVEE THAT HAS BEEN PASSED TO DO THAT IN YOUR DISTRICT, THEN WE WANT THAT MONEY TO GO AWAY OR THAT LEVEE TO GO AWAY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF THIS MONEY COMES FROM THE STATE, THEN WE CAN GIVE SOME PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE FUNDED IT ON THEIR OWN.

SO THOSE TWO THINGS ARE IN THE BILL.

BUT IT'S STILL OPTIONAL -- >> FOR FAMILIES BUT NOT FOR THE DISTRICTS.

>> IT WOULD BE OPTIONAL FOR THE FAMILIES, BUT -- FULL-KAY KINDERGARTEN CAN HAVE A LOTP DIFFERENT LOOKS.

-- A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOOKS.

SO WE'RE NOT MON DATING HOW THIS -- MANDATING HOW THIS WOULD LOOK ON EVERY DISTRICT.

>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A TELLING EXCHANGE.

THE STATE BOARD WENT THROUGH A BUNCH OF BILLS AND DECIDED WHETHER THEY WANTED TO TAKE A POSITION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON A VARIETY OF EDUCATION BILLS.

TOOK NO POSITION ON THE ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN BILL.

AND PART OF THE REASON IS THE APPROACH IN THAT BILL IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE GOVERNOR'S APPROACH, WHICH WOULD BE PUT MONEY INTO THE LITERACY PROGRAM, ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTERS TO MAYBE GO TO ALL-DAY KIND OR MAYBE DO SOMETHING ELSE.

SO THE STATE BOARD BACKED AWAY, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ON RECORD SUPPORTING THE BILL MUCH LIKE THE BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE.

AND I THINK IT GIVES YOU A GLIMPSE INTO THE POLITICS.

IT GIVES YOU A GLIMPSE INTO THE SENSE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND LEGISLATORS ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A PADS FORWARD.

THE MONEY -- PATH FORWARD.

THE MONEY IS THERE ONE WAY OR THE ANOTHER.

THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE OF FINDING $47 MILLION.

IT'S THERE.

BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU FRAME THIS, HOW DO YOU STRUCTURE IT.

SO I THINK THERE'S STILL WORK GOING ON, CLEARLY.

>> AND I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH PUTTING I JUST AS LITERACY MONEY, WHICH I APPLAUD THE GOVERNOR FOR DOING THAT, IS THAT YOU WILL HAVE SOME DISTRICTS THAT PROVIDE FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

AND PARENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND.

AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE SOME DISTRICTS THAT STILL DON'T HAVE IT.

AND WE ARE REALLY -- OUR MANDATE FROM THE IDAHO CONSTITUTION IS TO HAVE A UNIFORM THOROUGH PUBLIC FREE EDUCATION AND WHEN YOU DON'T PROVIDE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK THAT'S -- MAY GET US INTO SOME CONSTITUTIONAL TROUBLE.

>> WHAT'S YOUR VIEW FROM THE HOUSE SIDE?

IS THIS THE YEAR FOR FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN?

>> I WILL WAIT AND SEE WHAT COMES FROM THE POLICY COMMITTEE AND MAKE MY VOTE AND GO FROM THERE.

I PULLED OUT AN 1800s DICTIONARY LAST MONTH TO SEE WHAT UNIFORM MEANT AT THE TIME THE CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN.

OF THE SAME FORM.

AND SO MY INTERPRETATION OF THAT IS UNIFORM OPPORTUNITIES, BUT THEY MIGHT NOT LOOK THE SAME.

IT MIGHT NOT MEAN IN BUILDING.

WHAT IF IT MEANT THAT BUILDING COULD DO HALF-DAY AND TAKE THAT MONEY AND DO LITERACY PROGRAMS OR ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR THEIR CHILD?

SO UNIFORM -- I THINK -- I HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF UNIFORM THESE DAYS.

>> I THINK -- I THINK THAT CAN STILL WORK AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF HAVING IT OPTIONAL, BECAUSE -- AND ALLOWING IN THE BILL, IT SAYS YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES.

SO WE CAN -- YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY DO THAT.

I THINK.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

I THINK SOME PARENTS WILL CHOOSE THAT OPTION.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT.

I WANTED TO TOUCH ON TEACHER RETENTION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

WHAT MIGHT WE SEE FROM THE BUDGET COMMITTEE THIS YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHER PAY?

>> I THINK WE'VE ALREADY SEEN TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT TOWARD REDEMPTION WITH THE $75 MILLION GOING TOWARD HEALTH INSURANCE AND ABOUT WHOOTH 105 MILLION PROPOSED -- 105 MILLION PROPOSED, ANOTHER BONUSES, ONE YEAR OF CAREER LADDER AND ANOTHER YEAR EQUALING 10% IN SALARY PLUS THE BONUS.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HUGE INVESTMENTS IN TEACHER SALARY AND RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT.

>> AND I THINK WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE SOME -- A BUMP FOR CLASSIFIED AND HOPEFULLY A BONUS FOR THEM ALSO, BECAUSE OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON A BILL TO DO LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR TEACHERS AND INCENTIVES FOR ADDITIONAL ENDORSEMENTS OR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES.

SO I THINK WE'RE SEEING SOME HEADWAY IN THAT AREA.

>> AND REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE SCHOOL EMPLOYEE INSURANCE PLAN.

IT'S NOT JUST TEACHERS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S ALSO THE CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES.

IT'S THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, IT'S THE CAFETERIA WORKERS.

AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTERS HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME RETAINING THOSE EMPLOYEES.

AS THEY LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ELSEWHERE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> VERY BRIEFLY.

ARE WE GOING TO SEE A SIMILAR INVESTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO HIGHER ED EMPLOYEES?

>> I THINK THAT REMAINS TO BE SCENE BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO ONE PROPOSAL FOR THE HOUSE.

SO WE CAN MAYBE SKIP SOME OF THE DRAMA THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST, BUT THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

REPRESENTATIVE WENDY HORMAN, JAMIEES, KEVIN RICHERT.

WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT WEEK.

>>> 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.