BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho State Board of Education Thursday formally adopted the recommendations put forth last fall by Governor Brad Little’s “Our Kids, Idaho’s Future” task force. The recommendations are intended to be a blueprint for elementary and secondary education priorities for the next five years.
The recommendations include:
-Improving student literacy in grades kindergarten through 3rd grade
-Greater access to all-day kindergarten.
-Building out the teacher career ladder to improve salaries for veteran teachers.
-Provide training for teachers to address social and emotional issues in the classroom.
-Creating more flexibility for school districts to use state funds to address local needs.
The Board also passed motions to:
-Oppose any additional restrictions to the current statutory framework for local control on levies, bonds or school calendars during the 2020 legislative session.
-Support the Governor’s initiatives and priorities for teacher pay and the career ladder build-out.
The Board adopted recommendations put forward by its Career Technical Education Work Group to improve CTE access and instruction statewide, by utilizing regional advisory committees to engage local employers to help meet local needs. The report also recommends expanding and improving apprenticeship programs and initiating a statewide outreach campaign to create better understanding about career options available through CTE programs.
In other actions, the Board:
-Approved Boise State University’s request to purchase a 90,000 square-foot office building just east of the campus for a price not to exceed $22.5 million. Boise State will use the building for administrative purposes in order to free up more space on campus for instruction.
-Approved Idaho State University’s request to start the third phase of a project to expand the EAMES complex for use by Idaho State’s College of Technology. Partial funding will be provided by a $2.2 million federal grant. The EAMES complex will eventually house all College of Technology programs in one location.
-Approved Idaho State University’s request to name its planned alumni center the Idaho Central Credit Union Bengal Alumni Center. ICCU recently donated $1.5 million to the project. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year.
The Board met Wednesday and Thursday at Boise State University.
