>> WELCOME TO THE IDAHO DEBATES.

TONIGHT, THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CANDIDATES FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

THE IDAHO DEBATES IS ORGANIZED BY THESE PARTNERS.

FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, THE IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION ENDOWMENT, AND CAN THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> WELCOME TO THE IDAHO DEBATES AT THE IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION STUDIOS.

THIS IS THE SECOND DEBATE WE'RE HOSTING BEFORE THE MAY 17th PRIMARY ELECTION.

TONIGHT THE THREE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR SUPERINTENDENT TAKE TO THE STAGE TO ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION OVERSEES OPERATIONS AT THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND IS A CHAMPION FOR EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE.

THE WINNER OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WILL FACE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE TERRY GILBERT IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.

I WANT TO WELCOME THE CANDIDATES, BRANDEN DURST, DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD, AND SHERRI YBARRA.

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER BRANDEN DURST SERVEDDED IN IDAHO HOUSE FOR TWO TERMS AND THE IDAHO SENATE FOR ONE YEAR.

HE CURRENTLY WORKS AS A MEDIATOR.

DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE IDAHO STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR TWO YEARS, AFTER BEING APPOINTED TO THE BOARD IN 2014.

SHE IS ALSO SERVED ON THE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.

AND INCUMBENT SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION SHERRI YBARRA IS SERVING HER THIRD TERM IN OFFICE, PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED SHE WORKED IN THE MOUNTAIN HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT.

CAR LIEN DAVIS VOLUNTEER TIMEKEEPERS FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE GIVEN 90 SECONDS FOR OPENING COMMENTS, AND 60 SECONDS FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS.

WE DREW NUMBERS A FEW MINUTES AGO TO SEE WHO WOULD GO FIRST.

AND SENATOR DURST, YOU HAVE THAT HONOR.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS DEBATE TODAY.

THE NEXT HOUR YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TWO COMPETING VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF IDAHO SCHOOLS.

THE LADIES TO MY LEFT WILL PROVIDE A VISION THAT'S BASED ON INSIDER VIEWS, THE BELIEFS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS KNOW BEST AND BELIEVE WE SHUT DOUBLE DOWN ON A SYSTEM OF EDUCATION THAT HASN'T WORKED FOR SO MANY FAMILIES.

MY VISION, THE VISION OF AN OUTSIDER IS VERY DIFFERENT.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

I THINK WE NEED TO PUT PARENTS BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GET GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY, AND LET PARENTS -- WE'VE GOT A LOT OF STAKE.

WE'VE ALL SEEN THE THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

CRITICAL RACE THEORY, SOCIAL JUSTICE DOCTRINATION, THE SEXUALIZATION OF OUR STUDENTS.

I HAVE PLANS AND I'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO MAKE SERIOUS CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO FIX OUR SCHOOLS, AND TO HELP ALL OF OUR STUDENTS SUCCEED.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES IS IF WE'RE SATISFIED WITH OUR CURRENT EDUCATION SYSTEM.

IF WE ARE, ONE OF THE INSIDERS WOULD BE A GREAT CHOICE.

BUT IF YOU BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, IF YOU BELIEVE WE NEED TO GET BACK TO TRUSTING PARENTS AGAIN, MY NAME IS BRANDEN DURST AND I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO BE YOUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SENATOR DURST.

UP NEXT, MRS. CRITCHFIELD.

>> Debbie Critchfield: THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD, MY HUSBAND AND DAVE AND I ARE FOURTH-GENERATION FARMERS IN THE MAGIC VALLEY WHERE OUR FOUR CHILDREN ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I WAS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, A GED INSTRUCTOR FOR CSI AND A 10-YEAR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.

FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS HAVE BEEN THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER.

IN 2014, I WAS APPOINTED TO IDAHO'S BOARD OF EDUCATION BY GOVERNOR OTTER, AND THEN LATER APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR LITTLE.

IT'S BECAUSE OF MY SERVICE OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT AT THE STATE EDUCATION TABLE AND I CAN TELL YOU, IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.

I'M RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS DESERVE MORE.

I'M RUNNING BECAUSE OUR PARENTS EXPECT MORE AND OUR KIDS NEED MORE.

GREAT SCHOOLS MATTER FOR IDAHO.

THE CORE OF MY VISION PUTS SKILLS AND WORK READINESS AT THE CENTER OF AN IDAHO EDUCATION.

AND IT BEGINS WITH A STRONG START.

WHEN OUR KIDS CAN READ AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT AS WE PREPARE OUR STUDENTS AND KIDS FOR THEIR LIVES AND THEIR CAREERS, AND IT MUST TAKE IN A COMPONENT OF FINANCIAL LITERACY.

WE NEED ENGAGED PARENTS AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH THE RESOURCES AND SKILLS AND TOOLS THEY HAVE FOR THE MODERN CLASSROOM, AND YOU NEED A SUPERINTENDENT THAT WILL LISTEN, WORK, AND ACT.

I HAVE THE SKILLS, BACKGROUND, EXPERIENCE, AND EDUCATION TO BE ABLE TO FILL THIS ROLE.

AND I WILL LEAD ON DAY ONE.

>> Aaron Kunz: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FINALLY, SUPERINTENDENT YBARRA.

>> Sherri Ybarra: FIRST OF ALL, LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THANK YOU TO IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, THE PANEL TONIGHT, AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE AUDIENCE OF IDAHO AND THE VOTERS ABOUT WHY I'M ASKING FOR ANOTHER TERM AS YOUR 25th SUPERINTENDENT I LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AND ALL THE PROGRESS OUR STUDENTS HAVE MADE IN EDUCATION, WE ARE LEADING THIS R EXAMPLE, OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN RANKED 31st IN THE PAST.

WE HAVE NOW MOVED TO 17th IN THE NATION FOR ACHIEVEMENT.

WE'VE BEEN RANKED NUMBER ONE FOR COLLEGE CREDITS EARNED WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE ARE FIFTH IN THE NATION FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READY AND OUR FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

I HAVE SECURED NEARLY $100 MILLION OF NEW MONEY SINCE I TOOK OFFICE IN THIS POSITION.

UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE BROUGHT OUR EDUCATIONAL PLAN TO LIFE AND I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE ON THIS STAGE TONIGHT THAT IS A CERTIFIED K-12 TEACHER, A PRINCIPAL, A SUPERINTENDENT, AND NOW YOUR STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

I KNOW THAT OUR OVER 300,000 STUDENTS IN IDAHO DESERVE AN EXPERIENCED LEADER LIKE MYSELF THAT CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE UP TO THIS POINT OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

I HAVE RESPONSIBLY HANDLED A NEARLY -- AN OVER$2 BILLION BUDGET I HAVE THE STRONG TEAM IN PLACE TO MOVE FORWARD AND TAKE US TO THE TOP 10 IN THIS NATION.

I LOVE MY JOB, AND I HUMBLING ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ONCE AGAIN AS IDAHO'S SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

>> Aaron Kunz: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE OPENING STATEMENTS.

NOW LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE QUESTIONS, FOR THAT WE GO TO KEVIN RICHERT WITH THE FIRST QUESTION FOR SENATOR DURST.

>> Kevin Richert: SENATOR DURST, YOU WOULD BE THE FIRST FORMER LEGISLATOR ELECTED STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

YOU'VE TOUTED THAT AS AN ADVANTAGE, BUT IDAHO HAS A LONG HISTORY OF ELECTING SUIT SUPERINTENDENTS WHO HAVE AN EDUCATION BACKGROUND AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CLASSROOM.

HOW WOULD YOU STRIKE THE BALANCE BETWEEN POLITICAL BACKGROUND AND AN UNDERSTANDING MUCH CLASSROOM WHEN YOU HAVE NO EDUCATION BACKGROUND OF YOUR OWN?

>> Branden Durst: I DO HAVE AN EDUCATION BACKGROUND.

THE NEXT TWO WEEKS I'LL HAVE AN EDUCATION SPECIALIST DEGREE IN EXECUTIVE EDUCATION LEADERSHIP, AND I'VE BEEN AN INSTRUCTOR IN CORE CURRICULUM DEVELOPER.

WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND ONE OF THE REASONS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE HAS BEEN SO INFURTHER AND SO INFECTIVE, NOT JUST IN THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, BUT IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, IS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW STATE GOVERNMENT WORKS AND A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN IDAHO.

THERE'S NO -- THERE SHOULD BE NO QUESTION AS TO WHY SO MANY STATES WHO CURRENTLY ELECT THEIR SUPERINTENDENTS FOLLOW THE SAME PATH I HAVE FOLLOWED.

THEY BELIEVE WE -- YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE TOTALITY OF STATE GOVERNMENT AS I DO, AND HAVING A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC POLICY, HAVING A SPECIALIST DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND HAVING THE DIVERSE BACKGROUND I HAVE FREQUENT PAIRS ME TO DO THAT.

IF WE WANT TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY IN THE STATE, WE HAVE TO LET DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANDIDATES.

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO GO DOWN TO THE SAME PATH, KEVIN, YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE HAD CONTINUED TO ELECT FOLKS WITH EDUCATION EXPERIENCE, BUT THAT HASN'T WORKED.

WE'VE NEVER ELECTED A STATE SUPERINTENDENT THAT HAS GOT LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE, AND I THINK THAT'S A MISTAKE.

WE DO THAT FOR OUR GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, WE DO THAT FOR OUR CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS, BUT NEVER FOR A STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

AND I THINK IT'S TIME WE TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND GET BETTER RESULTS AS A RESULT.

"RUNAWAY" YOU SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE AS A DEMOCRAT, YOU RAN FOR WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE IN 2016 AS A DEMOCRAT.

YOU RAN FOR BOISE SCHOOL BOARD, A NONPARTISAN RACE IN 2018.

NOW YOU'RE RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN FOR STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

ARE YOU A POLITICAL GADFLY?

>> Branden Durst: YOU CAN SEE THE VAST NUMBER OF ENDORSEMENTS I'VE HAD IN THIS CASE COME FROM THE CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS IN IDAHO.

THEY DON'T HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MY FORMER PARTY AFFILIATION BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE AS A KARATE VOTED LIKE A REPUBLICAN.

IN 2013, I WAS ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE STATE SENATE INCLUDING REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

I'D RATHER HAVE BEEN A DEMOCRAT AND VOTED LIKE A REPUBLICAN THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S THE BRAND OF REPUBLICANISM SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPORTING MS. CRITCHFIELD FOLLOW.

SO THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT.

AND LOOK, AGAIN, LOOK WHO'S ENDORSED MY CAMPAIGN.

SOME OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE GROUPS IN THE STATE OF IDAHO, SOME OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATORS IN THE STATE OF IDAHO.

IN FACT, I JUST RECEIVED WORD THE ENDORSEMENT OF RIGHT TO LIFE OF IDAHO AS WELL BECAUSE OF MY 100% PRO-LIFE VOTING RECORD.

I'VE GOT A CALL FOR SERVICE.

I BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO SERVE IN A ROLE OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND CERTAINLY I RUN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE OF THAT.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE AS CITIZENS TO STEP UP AND USE OUR GIFTS IN A WAY THAT ARE EFFECTIVE.

AND I'M CHOOSING TO DO THAT VERY THING.

I'M GIVING THE STATE OF IDAHO AND THE PEOPLE OF IDAHO AND ESPECIALLY THE CONSERVATIVES OF IDAHO A CHOICE WHERE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ONE IF I WEREN'T RUNNING.

THEY HAVE A CONSERVATIVE CHOICE NOW AND THEY CAN VOTE >> Kevin Richert: MRS. CRITCHF IELD, IN ONE KEY PIECE OF THE STATE BOARD'S AGENDA, THE SEVEN YEARS YOU WERE ON THE BOARD, WAS THE 60% POST-SECONDARY COMPLETION GOAL.

THE STATE MADE LITTLE PROGRESS ON THAT GOAL, AND BASICALLY ABANDONED THE GOAL.

GIVEN THAT KIND OF FAILURE ON THAT FRONT, HOW WOULD YOU ASSURE VOTERS THAT YOU CAN SET PRIORITIES AND SEE PRIORITIES THROUGH IF ELECTED STATE SUPERINTENDENT?

>> Debbie Critchfield: THAT GOAL WAS SET PRIOR TO ME COMING ONTO THE BOARD AND IT BECAME PART OF A CONVERSATION THAT OUR BOARD HAS HAD FOR MANY YEARS.

I BELIEVE THE FAILURE HAS BEEN IN THE K-12 ARENA.

WHAT WE SEE IS STUDENTS CHOOSING OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES THE TRADITIONAL COLLEGE TRAJECTORY.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO ARE CREATE -- TRANSFORM HOW WE HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE, HOW WE PROVIDE CREDIT.

IN OTHER WAYS, RATHER THAN THE TRADITIONAL WAYS.

AND HOW WE PROVIDE THE RELEVANCY.

AND SO AS WE LOOK TO MATCHING THE SKILLS, THE NEEDS, THE ABILITIES OF WHAT OUR STUDENTS WOULD LIKE TO DO, AND WHAT WE'RE CURRENT BELY DOING, WE SEE A TREMENDOUS MISMATCH.

SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO ME AT ALL THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT NUMBER DECLINE, BECAUSE WE'VE NEEDED THE LEADERSHIP IN THE K-12 ARENA.

AS YOU KNOW, THE BOARD IS A POLICY MAKING BOARD AND THE IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD HAVE FALLEN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> Kevin Richert: BUT THE STATE BOARDS CREATES POLICY AT THE K-12 LEVEL AS WELL AS THE HIGHER EDUCATION LEVEL.

TO WHAT EXTENT DOES THE STATE BOARD OWN THE PROBLEMS AT THE K-12 LEVEL YOU'RE CITING?

>> Debbie Critchfield: BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF THE BOARD, THERE IS A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER THAT IS THERE TO IMPLEMENT, THAT IS THERE TO COME AND BRING IDEAS, AND THIS IS HOW WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.

AND THAT WAS COMPLETELY MISSING OR LATE.

>> Kevin Richert: SUPERINTENDE NT YBARRA, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME NUMBERS, BUT NOT ALL THE NUMBERS IN THE K-12 ARENA ARE AS ROSY.

51% OF K-3 STUDENTS READ AT GRADE LEVEL.

THE RATES HAVE FALLEN DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THE STATE HAS FAILED TO MEET MOST OF THE BENCHMARKS THE STATE ESTABLISHED UNDER THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT.

GIVEN THOSE NUMBERS, WHY SHOULD VOTERS BELIEVE YOU WOULD HAVE MORE SUCCESS IN THE THIRD TERM THAN YOU'VE IN THE IN THE FIRST TWO?

>> Sherri Ybarra: THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT MY NUMBERS.

THEY ARE A THIRD-PARTY'S NUMBERS THAT HAVE RANKED OUR STATE.

AND THEY ARE ALL SOMETHING FOR IDAHOANS TO BE PROUD OF.

I TRULY BELIEVE IDAHO IS LOOKING FOR THE BEST CANDIDATE, WHICH IS A PUBLIC EDUCATION CANDIDATE, NOT SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO STAND ON THE STAGE AND POKE TEACHERS AND BLAME THEM FOR ALL THE K-12 AILS OR SAY THEY SHOWED UP LATE TO THE PARTY AND OF COURSE THEY WERE A TEACHER, THEY'RE GETTING A DEGREE, AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES.

I THINK IDAHO I WOULD CAUTION YOU TO BE VERY CAREFUL AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALREADY MADE THAT MISTAKE ONCE.

OF HIRING SOMEONE THAT WASN'T A K-12 CERTIFIED CLASSROOM TEACHER WITH EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

I BELIEVE IDAHOANS ARE LOOKING FOR A CONSERVATIVE LEADER THAT IS RESULTS ORIENTED.

MY TRACK RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

YOU CANNOT ARGUE WITH THE NUMBERS.

I THINK SOME OF THE NUMBERS YOU'RE QUOTING RELATE TO, I'VE HEARD MY OPPONENTS TRAVEL THE STATE AND SAY, 60% OF OUR FIRST GRADERS ARE NOT READING ON GRADE LEVEL.

WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.

THEY'RE QUOTING ACTUALLY WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH IS WHEN OUR STUDENTS ARE TAKING THE IDAHO READING INDICATOR, THEY'RE COMING IN TO THAT GRADE LEVEL MAYBE AT THAT LEVEL, AND THEN THEY'RE LEARNING TO READ AND LEAVING THAT GRADE LEVEL 60% ON GRADE LEVEL.

SO IDAHO HAS A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.

THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY KEEPS MOVING TO IDAHO, I DON'T THINK ANYONE BELIEVES FOR ONE SPLIT SECOND THAT OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS BROKEN.

NOW, DO WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO?

ABSOLUTELY WE DO.

AND WE FOUND OUT DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT OUR -- SOME OF OUR LEARNERS THAT HAD ALREADY HAD SOME OF THOSE GAPS STILL NEED WORK.

THAT'S OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SEEING ANOTHER TERM.

BECAUSE I KNOW THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED, TO HELP OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE.

>> Kevin Richert: QUICKLY, JUST A FOLLOW-UP, THE FIFTH IN THE NATION RANKING YOU CITE, IT'S A 2018 U.S. NEWS AND WORLD RECORD ARTICLE, OR STUDY, THAT REALLY MEASURES HOW MANY STUDENTS TOOK THE SAT.

AND STUDENTS IN IDAHO CAN TAKE THE SAT FOR FREE.

AREN'T YOU CHERRY PICKING THE NUMBERS?

>> Sherri Ybarra: ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THOSE ARE OUR NUMBERS.

FROM A THIRD PARTY.

THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE.

THEY'RE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY.

FIFTH IN THE NATION.

THRIFERS TO 17th IN THE NATION FOR ACHIEVEMENT.

NUMBER ONE FOR COLLEGE CREDITS EARNED WHILE STILL IN WHOM.

AND OUR STUDENTS DESERVE TO HEAR HOW GREAT THEY'RE DOING AND OUR EDUCATORS DESERVE TO HEAR THAT TOO.

I'LL SHARE ANOTHER PIECE OF INFORMATION, I'M SUPER EXCITED TO TELL IDAHOANS ABOUT TONIGHT, THE FACT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY ABOUT A MONTH AGO TO SIT AROUND THE TABLE AND LISTEN TO SOME OF OUR RESULTS DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND OUR KIDS WERE OUTPERFORMING NEARLY MOST OF OUR PEERS IN OTHER STATES, OR OUR SLIDEBACKS WERE NOT NEARLY AS MINIMAL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WHY?

BECAUSE OUR SCHOOLS WERE OPEN UNLIKE THE REST OF THE NATION.

OF COURSE WE SAW A SMALL CLOSURE, BUT THAT'S WHY I RAN MY IN-PERSON LEARNING BILL.

TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS DIDN'T CLOSE AGAIN, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IN-PERSON LEARNING WAS THE NUMBER ONE OPTION FOR OUR PARENTS AND OUR STUDENTS.

AND IT WORKED.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON, LIKE CLOSE THOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS FOR OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS AS A STATE SUPERINTENDENT AND A FORMER CLASSROOM TEACHER THAT I HAVE THE EXPERTISE IN IN MOVING OUR STATE FORWARD, AND I WANT TO BE WITH IDAHOANS WHEN WE MAKE IT TO TOP 10 IN THE NATION.

I'VE DONE THE JOB IDAHOANS HAVE ASKED ME TO DO, AND I I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS.

>> Aaron Kunz: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON, OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM BETSY AND YOU'LL BE ADDRESSING SENATOR DURST.

>> Betsy Russell: SENATOR DURST, LET'S TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

THIS SESSION YOU PRESENTED A PARENTAL RIGHTS BILL YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET PRINTED IN THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

AND AFTERWARDS YOU BECAME ENGAGED IN A HEATED AND PROFANE EXCHANGE WITH ONE OF THE SENATE REPUBLICANS WHO OPPOSED THE BILL THAT YOU HAD PROPOSED.

BASED ON THIS EPISODE, HOW CAN YOUR SUPPORTERS HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE THAT YOU CAN EFFECTIVELY GET THINGS DONE AT THE STATE HOUSE?

>> Debbie Critchfield: DROIG >> Branden Durst: THE TWO SENATORS THAT -- SUPPORT DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD, IF THAT SHARES YOUR VISION WE COULD BE RUNNING FOR THE HILLS.

THE REALITY IS, I -- THOSE TWO SENATORS PUT POLITICS IN FRONT OF PARENTS.

AND THAT'S WRONG.

YES, I GOT DEFENSIVE BECAUS I TRUST PARENTS AND I'M A DEFENDER OF PARENTS.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR TRYING TO FIGHT FOR PARENTS BECAUSE THEY NEED IT.

THEY'VE LIVED THROUGH TWO YEARS OF A PANDEMIC WHERE THEIR CHILDREN WERE FORCED TO STAY HOME, WHERE THEY COULDN'T CHOOSE WHETHER THEIR CHILDREN WERE MASKED BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES OF THE LADIES ON THE STAGE.

THAT WAS WRONG.

AND I WAS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WE'RE HOPEFUL THOSE TWO SENATORS WILL FIND A DIFFERENT PLACE TO WORK NEXT YEAR.

AND THEY WON'T BE IN THE CAPITOL BUILDING.

YOU CAN LOOK NO FURTHER THAN MY TRACK RECORD OF HAVING GET LEGISLATION PASSED.

THE ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM STARTED UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, UNDER MY WRITING OF THAT BILL.

THAT'S WHAT STARTED WITH IT.

IT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

YET IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL.

THE NO PUBLIC FUNDS FOR ABORTION ACT, I LED THE FIGHT ON THAT AND HELPED DRAFT IT.

SO THERE'S PLENTY OF EXAMPLES OF THINGS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

BUT WE NEED A FIGHTER FOR PARENTS.

IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO BE MILK TOAST AND TAKE IT, I WANT TO POINT OUT THERE'S NO PROFANITY FROM ME, BY THE WAY.

IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO BE MILK TOAST AND NOT FIGHT, I'M NOT YOUR GUY.

BUT IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO FIGHT FOR YOU AS A PARENT, I'M THE CANDIDATE FOR YOU.

>> CAN I RESPOND TO THAT?

THERE WAS PROFANITY.

I WAS IN THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE THAT DAY, AND THERE ABSOLUTELY WAS PROA FANCY.

>> Branden Durst: BY SENATOR -- >> BY MY OPPONENT.

>> Branden Durst: YOU CAN SAY THAT NOW, BUT PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME KNOW I DON'T CURSE.

THAT'S FINE.

THE REALITY, SENATOR WOODWARD AND CRABTREE BOTH ENGAGED IN WHAT SHOULD BE DESPICABLE BEHAVIOR BUT SENATE LEADERSHIP SWEPT THAT UNDER THE RUG.

WE NEED A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

>> Debbie Critchfield: I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND.

I THINK IT'S A POOR EXCUSE TO BLAME PEOPLE FOR POOR LEGISLATION.

I'M A PARENT OF -- FOR MR. DURST, HE'S CLAIMED I'M A PARENT.

SO AM I. I'M A GRANDPARENT.

AND SO THERE'S NO OWNERSHIP ABOUT WHO THE PARENT IN THIS RACE.

AND THE INTERACTIONS WERE AND ARE UNBECOMING OF SOMEONE THAT WOULD HOLD THAT OFFICE.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE MR. DURST ANSWERED THE QUESTION.

YOU SAID HOW WILL YOU OVERCOME THAT?

HIS ANSWER WAS, I'M GOING TO WORK TO GET RID OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE ME.

I'M GOING TO WORK TO GET RID OF THE PEOPLE WHO WON'T SUPPORT MY LEGISLATION.

AND THEN HE TOUTED LEGISLATION THAT HE HAD.

I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING THAT WOULD EXHIBIT ANY TYPE OF FACILITATION OF LEADERSHIP, COOPERATION, WHICH IS WHAT'S NEEDED IN THE LEGISLATURE IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THESE THINGS.

>> Betsy Russell: SENATOR DURST YOU SAID YOU DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR BEHAVIOR.

THE ENTIRE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP PUBLICLY CRITICIZED YOUR BEHAVIOR, CONDEMNED IT, AND CALLED IT, QUOTE, EGREGIOUS CONDUCT UNBECOMING OF ANYONE, ESPECIALLY A FORMER LEGISLATURE AND CURRENT STATEWIDE POLITICAL CANDIDATE.

CAN YOU WORK WITH LAWMAKERS AFTER THAT?

>> Branden Durst: LET'S LOOK AT WHO THE MESSENGER IS.

>> Betsy Russell: THE ENTIRE SENATE LEADERSHIP.

>> Branden Durst: THEY STOPPED A BILL THIS SESSION TO PROTECT PARENTS FROM PORNOGRAPHY IN SCHOOLS.

THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE COMING AFTER ME.

IF YOU CARE WHAT THEY THINK, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT I DON'T.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TOE FIGHT FOR PARENTS, TO PROTECT KIDS, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER OR NOT A SENATOR IS UPSET WITH ME OR NOT.

BUT I WOULD POINT OUT -- I DID ANSWER THE QUESTION.

WE'VE GOTTEN MAJOR LEGISLATION PASSED WITH MY LEADERSHIP.

NOT JUST WHILE I WAS A LEGISLATOR, BUT WHILE I WAS A PRIVATE CITIZEN.

AND THE FACT THAT THAT'S BEING IGNORED BY MY OPPONENTS IS FINE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE TAKE-AWAY WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, ARE WE WILLING TO BE FRIENDLY WITH THOSE WHO FIGHT AGAINST FREEDOM?

THOSE WHO FIGHT AGAINST PARENTAL RIGHTS?

THOSE WHO DON'T BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE KEPT FROM PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, THAT'S THE QUESTION.

AND I'M JUST FINE WITH BEING -- I'M COMFORTABLE BEING THE PERSON WHO STANDS UP HERE TODAY AND SAYS NO, I'M NOT WILLING TO BE IN BED WITH THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

I BELIEVE OUR PARENTS DESERVE BETTER.

AND I BELIEVE OUR STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER.

>> Betsy Russell: MARTIN SCORSESE CRITCHFIELD, PLEASE TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE?

>> Debbie Critchfield: EXACTLY HOW I HAVE BEEN.

PARTICULARLY FOR TWO YEARS AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.

AND I WANT TO POINT THIS OUT.

BRANDEN, I DON'T KNOW ANY PERSON WHO BELIEVES PORNOGRAPHY SHOULD BE IN A SCHOOL.

YOU GO ASK.

IT WAS FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT WAS POOR LEGISLATION.

SO REFINE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF BILLS TO SUPPORT THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

THE PROCESS IS DESIGNED TO GET THROUGH ALL 105 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS.

I'LL GO ON TO THIS.

SO WE HAVE GOT TO, AND I BELIEVE AS A STATE SUPERINTENDENT, ONE OF MY -- ONE OF THE PRIORITIES I HAVE IS TO REESTABLISH US WITH OUR LEGISLATURE.

I BELIEVE THEY HAVE NOT HAD TRUST IN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER, AND THAT'S EXHIBITED BY ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

AND OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS I'VE CREATED THE RELATIONSHIPS, I HAVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T SUPPORT ME BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO AS AN ADULT.

YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE, WHERE THE COMMON GROUND IS, WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES, WHAT ARE THE GOALS WE'RE TRYING TO MEET, AND HOW DO WE TAKE ALL THOSE IN?

IT'S NOT JUST THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT IT'S OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

AND HOW YOU DO THAT IS CRITICAL TO THE ADVOCACY AND HOW WE CHAMPION FROM THE TOP FOR OUR PARENTS, FOR OUR KIDS, FOR OUR TEACHERS, OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Betsy Russell: SUPERINTENDE NT YBARRA, ON WORKING ARE THE LEGISLATURE, YOU HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE FOR SEVEN YEARS, CAN YOU POINT TO A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE, PURELY YOUR OWN, NOT A GUBERNATORIAL INITIATIVE, THAT YOU HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH BOTH HOUSES?

>> Sherri Ybarra: ABSOLUTELY.

MY IN-PERSON LEARNING BILL GOT THROUGH BOTH HOUSES.

MASTERY-BASED EDUCATION, CIVICS RESOLUTION.

I HAVE GOTTEN OVER 200 -- THIS YEAR, THE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS, MY TRACK RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, OVER 200 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR EDUCATION IN IDAHO THIS YEAR WAS SPECTACULAR.

AND I HAD A GROUP OF LEGISLATORS STANDING ON THE STEPS OF THE CAPITOL WHEN WE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TOGETHER AS A TEAM, THAT WE FINALLY GOT RID OF THE COMMON CORE IN IDAHO LIKE THE VOTERS OF IDAHO HAVE ASKED ME TO DO.

WE DID THAT WHEN I FIRST TOOK OFFICE, WE HAD AN IDAHO STANDARDS CHALLENGE.

BUT AGAIN, THE VOTERS WERE STILL NOT HAPPY AND IT WAS TIME TO LOOK AT THOSE AGAIN, AND AGAIN WE HAD LOTS OF EDUCATORS AND STAKEHOLDERS WORKING ON THAT GROUP.

AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT MOMENT IN TIME, AND PROVES THAT I DO GET THE JOB DONE.

UNFORTUNATELY MY OPPONENTS ARE SHOWING UP AND THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH EDUCATION, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN ORDER FOR THEM TO PROVE THEY'RE ONE OF THE BEST CANDIDATES ON THE STAGE.

WITH NO TRACK RECORD, NO EXPERIENCE, AND NO CERTIFICATION.

AND IDAHO'S CLASSROOMS, YOU WILL FINALLY SEE AT THE END OF THIS DEBATE WHY THEY'RE GOING DOWN THAT PATH.

BUT I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS.

>> Aaron Kunz: BETSY, FOLLOW-UP?

>> Betsy Russell: NO.

ACHE JAKOB?

>> Jakob Thorington: SENATOR DURST, YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU OPPOSE THE INCREASED LITERACY BUDGET AND ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN LAW THAT PASSED IN THE LEGIN THE LEGISLATIVE SED YOU NO LONGER SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS EARLY LITERACY?

>> Branden Durst: ONE OF THE REASONS I OPPOSED THE BILL HAS COME TO FRUITION.

WHICH IS THAT NOW PARENTS ARE BEING FORCED TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO.

I THOUGHT -- THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I PREDICTED WOULD HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WHAT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE DONE AND WHAT I SUPPORTED WAS PUTTING MONEY IN THE HANDS OF PARENTS SO THEY COULD MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER CHILDREN WENT TO SCHOOL AND FOR HOW LONG.

THAT WILL -- THAT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE KINDERGARTEN, THAT'S ALSO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THEIR K-12 EXPERIENCE.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO TRUSTING PARENTS AGAIN.

AND PART OF TRUSTING PARENTS IS TRUSTING THEM WITH THE RESOURCES TO DECIDE WHERE THEY'RE CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL.

A CHILD AND A PARENT SHOULDN'T BE STUCK ON THE SCHOOL THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR ZIP CODE OR THE SIZE OF THEIR BANK ACCOUNT.

PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE ANY SCHOOL THAT FITS THEIR CHILDREN'S NEEDS, NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO OTHERWISE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE IS ABOUT TONIGHT AND ON MAY 17th, IF WE WANT MORE OF THE SAME.

DO WE WANT TO GO SOMEPLACE DIFFERENT?

DO WE WANT DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS?

IF WE DO, WE NEED TO FIND A DIFFERENT KIND OF PERSON, SOMEONE WHO WILL FIGHT FOR PARENTS, THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS.

AND NOT JUST SAY AND SPOUT OFF NUMBERS THAT SAY HOW GREAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE.

IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD REELECT SUPERINTENDENT YBARRA.

AS A PARENT, I DON'T SEE IT.

I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THOUSANDS OF PARENTS THROUGHOUT IDAHO WHO DON'T BELIEVE IT EITHER.

WE NEED CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP AND THAT'S WHAT I'M >> Jakob Thorington: MRS. CRIT CHFIELD, ABOUT 40% OF KINDERGARTENERS SCORED AT GRADE LEVEL IN THE FALL 2021, IDAHO INDICATOR.

ARE THE STATE'S CHRONICALLY LOW FALL KINDERGARTEN READING SCORES A CONCERN FOR YOU, AND IF THEY ARE, HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THEM AND IF THEY ARE NOT CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY?

>> Debbie Critchfield: I ABSOLUTELY DO BELIEVE IT IS A CONCERN, AND IT IS AN AREA THAT WE NEED ATTENTION TO.

AND HOW WE SUPPORT WHAT PARENTS ARE DOING AT HOME.

AND I WANT TO CORRECT SOMETHING THAT MR. DURST SAID.

THERE'S NO LAW THAT COMPELS A PARENT TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

IT IS STILL A PARENT'S CHOICE.

IN FACT, THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR FIRST GRADE.

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO KINDERGARTEN IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO DO FULL-DAY.

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW WE PREPARE OUR STUDENTS, IT ABSOLUTELY HAS TO TAKE IN HOW WE HELP THEM AT THE EARLIEST LEVELS, HOW WE HELP SUPPORT WHAT PARENTS ARE DOING IN THE EDUCATION THAT'S TAKING PLACE, WHETHER IT'S AT HOME OR IN DAYCARES OR CHURCHES, OR IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE EARLY LEARNING WAS DESIGNED TO DO.

IT WAS DESIGNED TO PUT BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF PARENTS THAT WERE CHOSEN BY CHURCHES, BY LIBRARIES, BY HOSPITALS.

AND BOARDS THAT WORK TOGETHER.

THIS -- IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL THROUGHOUT THE EDUCATIONAL SPECTRUM AND GET OUR KIDS READING AT THIRD GRADE, WHICH I KNOW IS THIS AGE WHICH CAN I THINK IS TOO LATE AND TOO NARROW, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT EARLY PREPARATION AND HOW WE SUPPORT PARENTS IN THAT.

>> Branden Durst: WHEN MRS. CRITCHFIELD SAYS IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT, SHE MAY BE CORRECT, BUT THAT'S LIKE HER SAYING PARENTS ALREADY HAVE CHOICE IN SCHOOL WHEN THEY DON'T.

IF YOU'RE IN THE WEST ADA SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE BOISE SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOUR NEXT FALL RIGHT NOW THE PLAN IS IF YOU DON'T GO TO FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, YOU DON'T GET TO GO TO KINDERGARTEN AT ALL.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT HALF-DAY PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN LARGELY ELIMINATED.

BE.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED SOME POLICY BACKGROUND THAT CAN SEE THE HOLES AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF SOME OF THE THINGS WILL HAPPEN WHEN LEGISLATION IS PROPOSED.

>> Sherri Ybarra: IF I MAY CORRECT BOTH OPPONENTS, THAT NEW LEGISLATION IS OPTIONAL FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

I BELIEVE IZZAT IBRAHIM AL-DOURIIANS WANT A CONSERVATIVE -- IDAHOANS WANT A CONSERVATIVE LEADER, NO MATTER WHAT INITIATIVE COMES FORWARD WILL PROTECT LOCAL CONTROL.

THAT WAS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES IS MAKING SURE THAT ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN WAS OPIONAL.

BUT IT WAS BASED ON THOSE STATISTICS THAT ONE OF THE PANELISTS MENTIONED EARLIER.

WE KNOW THAT OVER 60% OF OUR KINDERGARTENERS ARE NOT PREPARED AS THEY'RE COMING FROM -- THROUGH THE DOOR FOR KINDERGARTEN.

BUT WE WANTED TO OFFER THAT RESOURCES TO PARENTS IF THEY KNEW THEIR CHILD WAS SLIGHTLY BEHIND.

ALSO AS A FORMER THIRD GRADE TEACHER, THIS IS NEAR AND KERRY TO MY HEART.

ONE OF MY GOALS IS MAKING SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE ON GRADE LEVEL, BY THIRD GRADE FOR READING.

WE KNOW AS EDUCATORS WHEN KIDS COME INTO KINDERGARTEN WITH A GAP THAT'S ALREADY WIDE IN ACHIEVEMENT IT'S LIKELY JUST TO GET WIDER.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CLOSE THAT GAP EARLY SO THE TIME KIDS GET TO THIRD GRADE, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED JUST LIKE THEIR PEERS.

SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO LET THE VOTERS OUT THERE KNOW THAT ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN IS OPTIONAL FOR THE STATE OF IDAHO.

>> Aaron Kunz: DID YOU WANT A QUICK FOLLOW-UP?

>> Debbie Critchfield: I WANT TO CLARIFY THE WE, THE ALL-DAY K EFFORT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY AN EDUCATION TASK FORCE THAT I COCHAIRED FOR GOVERNOR LITTLE.

AND THE GOVERNOR IS WHAT HAS BROUGHT THIS FORWARD, AND I THINK THAT UNDERSCORES, AGAIN, WHO IS IT THAT IS DRIVING EDUCATION, WHO SHOULD BE AND WHO IS DOING IT.

>> Sherri Ybarra: MY OPPONENT HAS NO IDEA WHO BRINGS THINGS FORWARD.

THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT STAND IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND PASS LEGISLATION.

I AM THE ONE WHO ASKS FOR IT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET, AND MADE SURE THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR.

YOU ARE ONE OF 24 OTHER PEOPLE THAT SERVED ON THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE INCLUDING MYSELF.

>> Aaron Kunz: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE ON.

BETSY WITH THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> Betsy Russell: THE NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE.

THE IDAHO CONSTITUTION MANDATE THAT THE STATE SHALL, QUOTE -- MAINTAIN A GENERAL UNIFORM AND THOROUGH SYSTEM OF PUBLIC FREE COMMON SCHOOLS.

SENATOR DURST, UNDER YOUR PHILOSOPHY THAT MONEY SHOULD FOLLOW THE STUDENT, HOW CAN YOU ENSURE IDAHO I STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE GUARANTEED AN EQUAL EDUCATION PARTICULARLY IN THE RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE?

PROVIDING THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT MY PLAN, AVAILABLE ON DURSTFORIDAHO.COM, ACTUALLY IT DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB OF MEETING THAT OBJECTIVE.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S DISPARITIES ON THEMENT A OF MONEY STUDENTS GET THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF IDAHO ON A PER PUPIL BASIS.

IF YOU LIVE IN ADA COUNTY AND CROSS CLOVERDALE ROAD, YOUR STUDENT COULD SEE A $2500 PER STUDENT REDECKS.

MY LEGISLATION CORRECT THAT PROBLEM.

IT EVENS THE MONEY AND MAKES SURE THAT OUR RURAL SCHOOLS, THOSE SCHOOLS WITH LESS THAN 2,000 STUDENTS NEVER SEE A REDUCTION IN THEIR PER PIF PUPIL FUNDING.

THIS IS A SUPERIOR WAY OF PROVIDE CHOICE, BUT WE ALSO MAKE SURE WE MEET OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE UNIFORMITY IN THE FUNDING OF OUR SCHOOLS.

SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ELUSIVE TO LEGISLATORS FOR DECADES.

SO I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE A PLAN THAT WILL DO THAT VERY THING, THAT WILL PROTECT OUR RURAL SCHOOLS, WHILE BEING ABLE TO RAISE MORE COMPETITION IN OUR SCHOOLS TO SEE INCREASED >> Betsy Russell: MRS. CRITCHF IELD, WOULD YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT BILL THAT DIED IN THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED PARENTS TO USE THE MONEY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS?

>> Debbie Critchfield: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CONDITIONAL NUMBER ONE THAT WE'RE NOT DEFUNDING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH IS MY PRIORITY AND AS YOU POINTED OUT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION.

AND SECONDLY, IT COULD NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR RURAL SCHOOLS.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT REVENUE BROUGHT THAT OUT, AND OF THE THREE OF US HERE I MANY A THE ONE -- I AM THE ONE CANDIDATE WHO FULLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT MEANS TO EDUCATE A CHILD IN A RURAL SETTING.

I'M ABOUT COMPETITION TOO, BUT IN ALMA, IDAHO, THERE'S NO COMPETITION OTHER THAN ONLINE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHOICE, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT CHOICE IN HOW WE TAKE THAT IN OUTSIDE OF THE MOST POPULOUS AND URBAN AREAS OF OUR STATE, WHERE IT'S LIMITED TO NOTHING.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO CONDITIONS UPON WHICH I WOULD HAVE MOVED FORWARD, POSITIVELY OR NOT, ON THAT LEGISLATION.

>> Betsy Russell: SUPERINTENDE NT YBARRA, YOU OFTEN ADVOCATE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.

YET IN EIGHT YEARS OR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS IN STATE OFFICE, YOU HAVE NOT PRESENTED A MEANINGFUL SCHOOL CHOICE PROPOSAL OF YOUR OWN.

WHY IS THAT?

>> Sherri Ybarra: I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF SCHOOL CHOICE OVER MY LEADERSHIP WE'VE INCREASED THOSE OPPORTUNITIES BY OVER 40%.

BUT WHAT YOU HEARD BOTH MY OPPONENTS SAY IS THEY ARE SHOWCHER SUPPORTERS.

I AM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

THAT'S WHY YOU SAW MY STAFF AND MYSELF FIGHT AGAINST ANYTHING THAT COMES FORWARD THAT SIPHONS MONEY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THE VOTERS OF IDAHO HAVE ENTRUSTED ME WITH THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I KNOW OUR RURAL SCHOOLS HAVE A LOT MORE CHALLENGES THAN THE REST OF OUR LARGER URBAN SCHOOLS DO, IDAHO IS OVER 70% RURAL.

THEY HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS.

AND THE RESEARCH BEHIND THAT SAYS IT'S THE BUDGET.

REDUCING THE THINGS THAT HAMSTRING THOSE RURAL SCHOOLS IN THE BUDGET MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, MAKING SURE THERE IS STRONG PARENTAL SUPPORT IN THOSE SCHOOLS, AND MAKING SURE AS WELL THAT YOU HAVE A LEADER THAT SUPPORTS EDUCATION PUBLIC EDUCATION AS A CHOICE AS WELL ACROSS OUR STATE.

AND TOUTS ALL OF THE MAGNIFICENT THINGS THEY'VE DONE IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT SIPHONS MONEY AWAY FROM OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

>> Aaron Kunz: LET'S GIVE THE OTHER CANDIDATES A CHANCE TO RESPOND.

WE'LL START WITH MRS. CRISPEDFIELD.

>> Debbie Critchfield: I'M CURIOUS HOW SHE'S INCREASED SCHOOL CHOICE BY 40%.

UNLESS SHE'S ON THE CHARTER COMMISSION, I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

>> Sherri Ybarra: I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS MY OPPONENT WHO HAS NO IDEA WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO RUN THE CHARTER SCHOOL DIVISION.

IT'S LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE, ALL OF THE NEW CHARTER SCHOOLS.

AND ALSO IN ADVANCED OPPORTUNITY WE -- ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES -- EXCUSE ME.

LIKE IN THE THIRD GRADE CLASSROOM, WE TEACH OUR STUDENTS NOT TO INTERRUPT.

I WAS SPEAKING AND YOU CAN HAVE YOUR TURN IN A MOMENT.

SO WITH THAT, ALSO, THERE IS LOTS OF CHOICES WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.

FOR EXAMPLE, ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES HAS BEEN OPENED UP TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THAT WAS MY TEAM THAT DID THAT FOR THE STATE OF IDAHO.

BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT SIPHONS AWAY THOSE DOLLARS FROM OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

>> Aaron Kunz: SENATOR DURST?

>> Branden Durst: WHAT YOU HEARD FROM THESE LADIES, ONE WHO IS COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO COMPETITION IN SCHOOLS, TO AN EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT, AND ONE WHO GIVE INDICATES AND DEPENDS UPON WHICH GROUP SHE'S TALKING ABOUT -- TALKING TO AS TO WHETHER SHE SUPPORTS IT OR NOT.

I'M CRYSTAL CLEAR.

I 100% SUPPORT EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMPETING WITH PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR MONEY, AND FOR STUDENTS.

THAT IS HOW COMPETITION WORKS.

THAT'S PART OF THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM AND I 100% SUPPORT IT.

>> Aaron Kunz: WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.

KEVIN WITH THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> Kevin Richert: SENATOR DURST, YOU'VE TALKED A LOT THIS EVENING ABOUT OFFERING VOTERS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING THAT IS NOT MORE OF THE SAME.

LET'S TALK ABOUT GRADUATION RATES.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY TO IMPROVE ISES' GRADUATION RATES?

>> Branden Durst: THIS GOES BACK TO SCHOOL CHOICE.

IF YOU'RE IN A DISTRICT THAT'S NOT WORKING, BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE YOUR AUTHORITY AS A PARENT TO TAKE THAT MONEY SOMEPLACE ELSE IS HOW WE IMPROVE SCHOOL CHOICE.

IT'S HOW WE IMPROVE OUR GRADUATION RATES.

YOU FIND A SCHOOL THAT IS GOING TO WORK FOR YOU, AND TO HELP ADDRESS THE QUESTION, YOU CAN HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE IN EVERY PART OF THE STATE OF IDAHO.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS FIND FIVE OTHER FAMILIES AND OPEN A SCHOOL UNDER WHAT WE CALL A POD.

YOU CAN DO THAT ANYWHERE IN IDAHO.

THERE WAS A STORY THAT CAME OUT RECENTLY THAT SHOWED THAT VERY THING.

THIS IS HOW CURVES GOVERN.

THEY DON'T LET NOT ONLY FORSTUDENTS THAT CHOOSE THAT SCHOOL CHOICE TO GO OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPROVED THE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS THAT STAY IN THE SYSTEM AS WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING IN IDAHO AND WHY WE AREN'T IS JUST BECAUSE OF A LACK OF LEADERSHIP.

>> Kevin Richert: MOST SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS ARE CENTERED IN URBAN AREAS IN THE STATE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS, HOW DO YOU EXPAND SCHOOL CHOICE AND DO THE ARENA OF IMPROVING GRADUATION RATES?

IN RURAL IDAHO?

>> Branden Durst: WE DON'T HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE TO HAVE MONEY FOLLOW STUDENTS.

IF WE DID, THEN 10 FAMILIAR HIS IN A SMALL COMMUNITY LIKE THREE -- COULD TAKE THEIR KIDS SOMEWHERE ELSE AND IMPROVE THE AREA.

IF YOU'RE -- NO MATTER WHERE YOU WERE IN IDAHO, IF YOU CAN FIND -- IF YOU CAN FIND OTHER FAMILIES TO GET TOGETHER, YOU CAN HIRE YOUR OWN TEACHER, HAVE YOUR OWN CURRICULUM AND DO WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST.

THAT'S CALLED EMPOWERING PARENTS AND THAT'S WHAT I >> Aaron Kunz: MRS. CRITCHFIEL D, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO IMPROVE GRAD WAYS RATES?

>> Debbie Critchfield: WE'VE GOT TO TRANSFORM HOW WE EDUCATE OUR JUNIORS AND SENIORS.

AND I WANT TO HAVE THAT ANCHORED TO A WORK-BASED EXPERIENCE, WHETHER THAT'S INTERNSHIP APPRENTICESHIP, WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE THE RELEVANCY FOR WHAT OUR KIDS ARE LEARNING, HOW THEY APPLY THAT KNOWLEDGE.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT KNOWING, BUT DOING.

I HAVE WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WHILE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO HELP DEVELOP PATHWAYS FOR GRADUATION THAT TOOK IN CAREER TECHNICAL GOALS.

AND TRADITIONAL COLLEGE GOALS.

IF A KID WANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE IN IDAHO WE KNOW HOW-TO-GET YOU THERE.

BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.

WHAT ARE ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS?

AND HOW WE REIMAGINE AND RETHINK WHAT WE'RE DOING, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT HELP.

THEY WANT A LEADER.

THEY DON'T WANT A SPECTATOR.

THERE IS LOCAL CONTROL, BUT THEY WANT A PARTNER THAT WILL HELP THEM SATISFY THE NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND I BELIEVE WHEN WE DO THAT, WE WILL SEE STUDENTS THAT WANT TO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, THAT'S NOT GET THROUGH YOUR SENIOR YEAR AND TRY TO GO TO SOMETHING ELSE.

THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING AND DOING IN HIGH SCHOOL HAS APPLICATION AND VALUE TO THEM OUTSIDE.

>> Kevin Richert: SUPERINTENDE NT YBARRA, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE HITTING A RECORD.

BUT THE FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE DROPPED THIS YEAR.

HOW DO YOU IMPROVE THAT GRADUATION RATE AND HELP STUDENTS GRADUATE ON TIME AS OPPOSED TO SPENDING AN EXTRA YEAR GETTING THEIR DIPLOMA?

>> Sheri Ybarra: I WAS AN EDUCATOR MYSELF AND SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE CLASSROOM LEVEL, WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT THAT NUMBER THAT HAS DROPPED, THAT'S THE FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE.

WE HAD A PANDEMIC, SO THAT EXPLAINS A LOT.

THAT MEANS KIDS NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO GRADUATE.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU SAW THE FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE GO TO AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AS IDAHOANS RAISE THAT GRADUATION RATE UP?

WE NEED CAREER, MORE CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION CHOICES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

AND I'M PROUD TO SAY UNDER MY LEADERSHIP WE HAVE OFFERED THOSE AT OUR SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE LEVELS AND FOR THOSE VOTERS WATCHING TONIGHT WHO HAVE ASKED ME ABOUT VOCATIONAL CREDITS AND HIGH SCHOOL, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

WE NEED MORE OPTIONS WITHIN OUR SYSTEM OF PUBLICATION, I THINK ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC IS WE REALIZE HOW OUR KIDS RELY SO MUCH ON TECHNOLOGY.

IN A TIME WHEN OUR PARENTS WILL SHOW UP AT THE COFFEE SHOP IN THE MORNING BEFORE DROPPING THEIR KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL AND EXPECT HIGH-SPEED INTERNET WITH THEIR CUP OF JOE, OUR STUDENTS EXPECT NO LESS.

AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY WE CAN KEEP KIDS ENGAGED.

A MASTERY-BASED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THAT LEGISLATION FORWARD, TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS CAN BE SELF-LEARNERS IN THAT SYSTEM IF THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT CHOOSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.

AGAIN, OUR KIDS NEED TO HAVE A FOOT IN BOTH LANES AT ALL TIMES.

IT IS OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SUPPLYING THOSE RESOURCES FOR THEM TO BE COLLEGE OR CAREER READY LIKE WE HAVE DONE.

>> Aaron Kunz: OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM BETSY.

YOUR FIRST QUESTION TO SENATOR DURST.

>> Betsy Russell: SENATOR DURST, WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND ITS IMPACT ON EDUCATION IN IDAHO.

TELL ME WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

YOU HAVE INDICATED YOU WOULD SUPPORT A STATEWIDE BAN ON MASK MANDATE.

DOESN'T THAT FLY IN THE FACE OF LOCAL CONTROL?

>> Branden Durst: THERE'S THINGS LOCAL CONTROL ISN'T APPROPRIATE FOR, AND THAT'S ONE OF THEM.

THE MOST LOCAL CONTROL IS FOR THE PARENTS.

AND I SUPPORT LOCAL CONTROL FOR PARENTS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

AND I DO BELIEVE THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MOVE BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO BAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS -- TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM MANDATING MASKS.

WE SAW PLACES IN WEST ADA SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE PARENTS HAD TO LINE UP AROUND THEIR DISTRICT OFFICE FOR HOURS TO KISS THE RING OF THE KING SO THEY COULD ASK FOR THEIR CHILDREN NOT TO BE FORCED TO BE WEARING MASKS ONLY TO HAVE THAT POLICY REVERSED.

PARENTS SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE DRIVERS OF THAT DECISION FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND I FULLY SUPPORT THAT.

IN FACT, I THINK THAT'S JUST ONE THING WE SHOULD HAVE DONE.

WE SHOULD HAVE ALSO MAINTAINED R SCHOOLS STAYED OPEN.

THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED CREATIVE WORK CAN WITH OUR STAFF WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS, HAVING SHARED OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN DISTRICTS.

BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING SHOULD HAVE REMAINED.

LET ME GIVE AGIVE STORY.

ACROSS FROM MY OFFICE WAS A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN A PUBLIC -- THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE PRIVATE SCHOOL STAYED OPEN, AND THE CHILDREN WERE UNMASKED.

WHEN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FINALLY WENT BACK INTO SCHOOL, STUDENTS WERE FORCED TO STAY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND THEY WERE FORCED TO WEAR MASKS.

ON ONE SIDE THERE WAS JOY ON THE OTHER SIDE THERE WAS BON DAMAGE.

I BELIEVE IN FREEDOM FOR OUR STUDENTS, I BELIEVE IN FREEDOM FOR OUR PARENTS AND THAT STATE SUPERINTENDENT THAT'S WHAT >> Betsy Russell: MRS. CRITCHF IELD, WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS LEARNING LOSS?

>> Debbie Critchfield: THANK YOU.

I KNOW IT'S EASY FOR PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T THERE AND DON'T KNOW TO DO SOME QUARTERBACKING AFTER THE FACT, AND WE LOOK BACK ON WHAT WE DID AND HOW WE TRIED TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS BEING OPEN IN PERSON, AND WHAT THEIR PLANS WERE AND WHAT THEIR PROTOCOLS WERE.

WHAT I LEARNED WAS THIS -- THE DISTRICTS WHO HAD A PLAN AND HAD AN EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD AND A STRONG SUPERINTENDENT WERE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE PANDEMIC.

THOSE THAT WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH PARENTS AND THAT HAD OPEN COMMUNICATION WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO BE NIMBLE AND ADAPT TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT'S EASY TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, GOSH, A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE SHOULD SHOULDA, WOULDA, COULDA.

AT THE TIME WE WERE IN REAL TIME IN A PUBLIC SET CAN, TRYING TO HELP SUPPORT WHAT OUR BOARDS WERE DOING, THEY ARE LOCALLY ELECTED PEOPLE.

AND MR. DURST WANTING A MANDATE THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE MASKS IS -- SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT IF THERE HAD BEEN A MANDATE THAT EVERYONE HAD MASKING?

I DIDN'T WANT THAT.

WE WANTED THE ABILITY FOR LOCAL BOARDS WORKING WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES IN WHAT WORKED IN THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THAT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT MAINTAINS THE ROLE OF SUPPORTER, YOU LISTEN, YOU SEE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE LOCAL DECISIONS, AND PROVIDE THE RESOURCES THAT HELP THEM ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS.

>> Aaron Kunz: LET'S GIVE SENATOR DURST 30 SECONDS TO RESPOND.

>> Branden Durst: WE'RE NOT TELLING ANYBODY THEY CAN'T WEAR A MASK, JUST THAT PARENTS SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PUT A MASK ON THEIR CHILD.

NUMBER TWO, IT WAS IN FRONT OF TESTIMONY IN THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IT WAS MEMBERS OF THE ALPHABET SOUP ISBA AND OTHERS WHO SAID ON THE RECORD IT WAS YOUR OFFICE THAT WAS TELLING DISTRICTS THEY HAD TO KEEP THEIR SCHOOLS CLOSED.

THAT ON THE RECORD.

AND I CAN FIND THE DATE IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

I'M HAPPY TO PUT IT ON MY WEBSITE.

WE HAVE THE VIDEO.

THEY SAID THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WHO IS FELLING THEM TO KEEP THEIR SCHOOLS CLOSED.

AND THEY WERE ALSO THE ONES FORCING THESE GUIDELINES ON KEEPING CHILDREN MATCHINGED RATHER THAN GIVING THE AUTHORITY TO PARENTS.

>> Sherri Ybarra: I NEVER GAVE A DIRECTIVE FOR BOARDS TO KEEP THEIR SCHOOLS CLOSED.

I'M NOT SURE ON THE DATE OF THAT.

I SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF THE REOPEN IDAHO ACROSS THE STATE, ON THE GOVERNOR'S K-12 COUNCIL, HOW DO WE GET KIDS BACK INTO SCHOOL?

AS SOON AS WE WENT INTO SOFT CLOSURE, WHICH WAS ORDERED THROUGH THE STAGING ORDERS IN THE STATE, IMMEDIATELY MY ATTENTION AS PRESIDENT TURNED TO HELPING SUPPORT OUR DISTRICTS TO GET BACK OPEN IN THE FORM THAT THEY COULD, PREFERABLY IN PERSON, FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR.

>> Betsy Russell: SUPERINTENDE NT YBARRA, WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS LEARNING LOSS?

>> Sherri Ybarra: I WANT THE VOTERS OF IDAHO TO KNOW THIS IS WHY I HAVE BEEN A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF LOCAL CONTROL.

I DID NOT INSTITUTE A MASK MANDATE, NOR DID I CLOSE SCHOOLS.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY THOSE EDUCATORS DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN A TIME WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE A BLUEPRINT FOR THIS PANDEMIC.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE FOUND OUT VERY QUICKLY FROM PARENTS, THEY WANTED THEIR SCHOOLS OPEN, AND A LOT OF PARENTS TOLD ME I'M NOT A TEACHER AND I FOUND THAT OUT THE HARD WAY.

SO WHAT DID WE LEARN?

WE LEARNED TECHNOLOGY WAS A MUST.

THAT PARENTS WANT MORE INVOLVEMENT.

THAT WE NEEDED SOMETHING CALLED A STATEWIDE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT COULD TAKE ATTENDANCE, BECAUSE WE HAD A FUNDING FORMULA THAT FUNDS SCHOOLS THAT WAS BASED ON ATTENDANCE DURING A PANDEMIC WHERE EVERYBODY WAS MISSING SCHOOL AND THERE WASN'T THE AMOUNT OF ATTENDANCE THAT COULD FUND OUR SCHOOLS.

THAT'S ALSO WHY YOU SAW ME SUPPORT AT A BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK MOVING AWAY FROM THAT MODEL INTO MORE OF AN ENROLLMENT-BASED MODEL FOR FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS.

SO WE LEARNED A LOT MOVING FORWARD, BUT I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING WE NEED TO DO IS THANK OUR TEACHERS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY DID AND THE OTHER THING WE LEARNED IS, WE SHOULDN'T EVER CLOSE SCHOOLS AGAIN.

AND WHILE NOBODY COULD HAVE FORESEEN THAT AND NOBODY DID ANYTHING WRONG, WE DID SEE THAT THERE WERE SOME SLIDEBACKS IN OUR ACHIEVEMENT WITH OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, AND OUR SPECIAL POPULATIONS.

AND WE KNEW THAT, AS EDUCATORS, BUT WE'LL BE WORKING HARD MOVING FORWARD TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS.

>> Betsy Russell: WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT LEARNING LOSS, TO ADDRESS THOSE SLIDEBACKS AS YOU CALL THEM?

>> Sherri Ybarra: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, BETSY.

WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DISTRICTS ON IS MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE USING THEIR COVID RELIEF DOLLARS ON THOSE RESEARCH PRACTICES THAT WE KNOW AS EDUCATORS WORK.

THAT'S HIGH DOSES OF TUTORING, THAT'S MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A JUMP START INTO OPTIONAL ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

SUMMER READING PROGRAMS, WHICH MAY SECOND MY DEPARTMENT AS HOSTING SOMETHING CALLED A SMART TRAINING.

WHICH IS TRAINING ALL TEACHERS AROUND THE STATE AROUND THE SCIENCE OF READING AND HOW TO MAKE SURE TO INTERVENE WITH KIDS WHEN WE SEE THEY MAY HAVE A DIFFICULTY WITH -- HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH READING.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE AN EDUCATOR TO KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.

AND TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE AT IN IDAHO WHERE WE WENT FROM 31st ACHIEVEMENT TO 17th IN ACHIEVEMENT, RIGHT NOW WHILE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

I'M PLEASED, WE DO HAVE A LOT MUCH WORK TO DO, I DO HAVE A PLAN TO SUPPORT THAT MOVING FORWARD, THAT IS BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC.

AND JUST A COUPLE MORE POINTS, WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON READING, WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EDUCATORS HAVE IMPROVED PAY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY WERE THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR WHY OUR KIDS HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.

>> Aaron Kunz: NEXT ROUND OF QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING BACK TO KEVIN.

IF YOU COULD ADDRESS MRS. CRITCHFIELD.

>> Kevin Richert: BE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS SAID THAT THEY DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S A CRITICAL RACE PROBLEM IN THE STATE, OR THAT THERE'S WIDESPREAD CRITICAL RACE THEORY BEING TAWGHTS.

DO YOU SUPPORT THAT OPINION?

>> Debbie Critchfield: AS A SYSTEMIC EFFORT TO INCORPORATE IT IN SCHOOLS, I DO NOT AND HAVE NOT SEEN IT.

THERE ARE THREE THINGS I KNOW ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING IN SCHOOLS AND WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAYING WE DON'T HAVE IT HERE AND POLICYMAKERS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I THINK AS WE LOOK AT HOW YOU DEFINE IT, THERE ARE THINGS THAT PARENTS ARE BROUGHT TO ME THAT THEY BELIEVED WERE CRITICAL RACE THEORY, AND MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE FIT THE DEFINITION.

I GUESS YOU HAVE TO START WITH HOW DOES SOMEONE DEFINE IT?

WE KNOW MORE THAN WE DID A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN THIS FIRST CAME AROUND.

AND I HAVE SEEN MORE DILIGENCE OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO PARENTS, THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT, THEY NEED MORE HELP, THEY DON'T NEED FIVE-POINT PRESENTATIONS OF HOW TO DO THIS OR THAT.

THEY NEED SOMEONE THAT WILL HELP THEM COMMUNICATE.

AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND MAKE SURE OUR PARENTS ARE PARTICIPATING IN SOME OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEES AND DECISION MAKINGS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> Kevin Richert: SUPERINTENDE NT YBARRA, DO YOU THINK IT'S A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN SCHOOLS AND TO WHAT DEGREE HAVE YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT TRIED TO TRACK IT?

>> Sherri Ybarra: AT LEAST WE'RE NOT ONE OF THOSE SCARY EXAMPLES IN THE HILLSDALE COLLEGE JOURNAL REPORT THAT USES IDAHO AS AN EXAMPLE OF CRT.

I WILL ALSO SAY PARENTS ARE CONCERNED.

AND SO WHAT DID I DO?

I SPRUNG INTO ACTION.

ONE I SUPPORTED THE LEGISLATION THAT OUR LEGISLATURE CAME OUT WITH, I DID NOT ON APRIL 22nd OF 2021 LIKE MY OPPONENT SAY SHE WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO TAKE A POSITION.

I ROLLED MY SLEEVES UP, I GOT OUT INTO THE CLASSROOMS, I VISITED GOVERNMENT CLASSES, I VISITED HISTORY CLASSES, I TALKED TO EDUCATORS AND WHAT I SAW WAS THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BEING STUDIED, THE CONSTITUTION, EVERYBODY WAS IN GOOD SPIRITS, AND SAID THEY ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

ON BEHALF OF IDAHOANS, WHAT ELSE I HAVE DONE?

I'VE MADE SURE I'VE INVESTIGATED EVERY ALLEGATION THAT'S COME ACROSS MY DESK.

AND LASTLY, I DID GIVE A FIVE-POINT PLAN TO SUPERINTENDENTS AS AYE TRAVELED THE STATE, MAKING SURE THEY EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT AND THAT THEY TAKE EVERY ALLEGATION SERIOUSLY.

PARENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

IN OUR STATE.

SO YOU MUST MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS SHOW YOU THE EXAMPLE AND YOU HAVE FOCUS GROUPS LIKE SOME OF OUR SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE HAD.

THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE ADVICE I GAVE THEM, THEY HAD FOCUS GROUPS, THEY ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO POINT OUT EXAMPLES% MOVING FORWARD.

I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT ON BEHALF OF IDAHOANS.

>> Aaron Kunz: SENATOR DURST, I SUSPECT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT READ ON THE EXTENT OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE SCHOOLS.

I WANT TO HEAR THAT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO HEAR HOW DO YOU DEFINE CRITICAL RACE THEORY?

>> Branden Durst: IT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR OUR FAMILIES.

SOCIAL JUSTICE DOCTRINATION, WHETHER WE CALL IT CRITICAL RACE THEORY, TRANSFORM TEF SEL, NO MATTER THE FORM, WHAT IT DOES IS TRIES TO DIVIDE OUR PEOPLE INTO TWO GROUPS.

ONE THAT IS OPPRESSED AND ONE THAT IS THE OPPRESSOR, BASED ON THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND.

I THINK WE NEED TO STOP IT.

WE NEED REAL ACTION.

WHAT I HEAR IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE TALK.

BUT NOT ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THAT'S WHY I PROPOSED AND WILL PROPOSE AS MEMBER OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A NEW POLICY UNDER BOARD POLICY 3B WHICH WILL CREATE A CAUSE OF ACTION.

IF TEACHERS OR PROFESSORS ARE TRYING TO DOCTRINE YAIT OUR STUDENTS AND DON'T TAKE THE MESSAGE TO STOP, THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO TEACH IN IDAHO.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A REAL PLAN.

WE CAN'T KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT AND HAVING MORE DIALOGUE.

THE TIME FOR DIALOGUE IS OVER.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE BEING INFESTED WITH THESE THINGS, IS IT HAPPENING IN EVERY DISTRICT IN IDAHO?

NO.

BUT IS IT HAPPENING IN A WIDESPREAD BASIS?

YES.

AND I HAVEN'T STEPPED AWAY FROM THAT POSITION.

STANDING UP HERE WHO HASN'T SAID PUBLICLY THAT IT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT.

I BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM AND I THINK SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TAKE SERIOUSLY, WHICH IS WHY IT'S BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF MY CAMPAIGN.

AND SOMETHING I'VE BEEN SPENDING SO MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT AND LISTENING TO VOTERS AS THEY SHARE THEIR CONCERNS AS WELL.

>> Aaron Kunz: WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

IT IS TIME FOR YOUR CLOSING STATEMENTS.

60 SECONDS FOR EACH OF THE CANDIDATES.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH SENATOR DURST.

>> Branden Durst: THANK YOU TO IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION FOR OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS DEBATE.

AS I SAID OVER AN HOUR AGO, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TWO COMPETING VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF IDAHO SCHOOLS.

YOU HEARD FROM THE LADIES TO MY LEFT, THEIR VISION IS TO DOUBLE DOWN ON A SYSTEM THAT ISN'T WORKING FOR SO MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND SO MANY STUDENTS.

A SYSTEM THEY BELIEVE IS -- THE EDUCATION SYSTEM THOSE BEST AND PARENTS DON'T.

MY VISION IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.

I TRUST PARENTS.

I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD GET GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY.

AND LET THEM LEAD.

ON MAY 17th WE HAVE ALL HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT HAVE GONE ON.

ON MAY 17th I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

A CHANCE TO ELECT SOMEONE WHO WILL CHANGE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, SOMEONE WHO WILL MAKE OUR IMPROVEMENT, WHO WILL FOCUS ON PARENTS, SOMEONE WHO WILL FOCUS ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND ON MAY 17th YOU'LL GET YOUR FINAL CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING YOU'VE WANTED TO DO FOR A LONG TIME, WHICH IS SAY LET'S GO BRANDEN.

VOTE FOR ME ON MAY 17th.

THANK YOU.

>> Debbie Critchfield: THANK YOU TO THE PANEL AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR VIEWPOINTS.

AND THERE IS A STARK CONTRAST HERE.

AND IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO TRANSFORM THE NEED OF OUR EDUCATION AND EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO FIT THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY, IT IS NOW.

AND WE NEED A LEADER TO DO THIS.

I AM THE CHANGE CANDIDATE.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE STATUS QUO.

IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING TENURED INTO POSITION WITH FUZZY DATA.

IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICAL RHETORIC.

IT'S ABOUT SOMEONE WHO IS A LEADER AND HAS EXHIBITED THE EVIDENCE OF THAT LEADERSHIP.

THAT WANTS TO HELP OUR SCHOOL.

WANTS TO HELP OUR FAMILIES THAT WANTS TO GROW OUR STATE.

IN THE WAY THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN.

THAT WANTS TO RESTORE THE VALUE OF EDUCATION.

I AM THAT PERSON, I WOULD INVITE THE VIEWERS TO CHECK OUT DEBBIE FOR IDAHO E.COM.

CHECK ALL OF US OUT.

KNOW WHO YOU'RE GETTING, KNOW WHERE YOU WANT TO GO AND CHOOSE YOUR LEADER WISELY.

THANK YOU.

>> Aaron Kunz: FINALLY, SUPERINTENDENT YBARRA.

>> Sherri Ybarra: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TO THE LISTENERS TONIGHT, FOR WATCHING THIS ENTIRE DEBATE, WHAT WE HAVE IN IDAHO IS A GREAT STATE.

A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY.

A GREAT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

AND WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE EVERYONE KEEPS MOVING HERE TO OUR LITTLE SECRET.

OUR PLACE THAT WE CALL IDAHO, HOME.

I CARE VERY DEEPLY ABOUT OUR OVER 300,000 STUDENTS IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, AND ALL OF THE PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

AND I KNOW IDAHOANS WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE AND EXCEL.

OUR OVER 300,000 STUDENTS DESERVE AN EXPERIENCED LEADER LIKE MYSELF HOE HAS THE TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS, THE EXPERTISE OF A LIFELONG EDUCATOR, THE ONE WHO ALREADY HAS A STRONG TEAM IN PLACE AND A LEADER WHO HAS THE HEART OF A MOTHER TO DO THIS JOB.

I LOVE MY JOB AS STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION IN IDAHO AND I WOULD BE HONORED TO REPRESENT YOU ONCE AGAIN AS IDAHO'S 25th SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

AND LIKE THE KIDS SAY, PLEASE VOTE FOR SHERI IN THE PRIMARY.

>> Aaron Kunz: WELL, THANK YOU TO THE CANDIDATES FOR THE TIME TONIGHT.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO STAND THERE AND TAKE TOUGH QUESTIONS, WE APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU HAVE SPENT WITH US TONIGHT.

AS WELL AS TO THE REPORTERS WHO ASKED GREAT QUESTIONS, AND TO OUR VIEWERS AT HOME, JUST A QUICK REMINDER, IT IS MAY 17th THE DAY TO LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE AT THE POLLS.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATES ON OUR WEBSITE, IDAHOPTV.ORG/ELECTIONS.

THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE DEBATE, 8:00, BOTH MOUNTAIN AND PACIFIC.

THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US.

GOOD NIGHT.

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