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Analysis: A long-term enrollment challenge looms for Idaho higher education
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on June 23, 2022. Colleges have been fighting the enrollment crisis of the day: recruiting students in the COVID-19 era. But other enrollment issues loom on the horizon in Idaho. The issues have to do with demographics: growth and birth rates. And they could hit Idaho’s four-year schools in different ways. […]
Divided North Idaho College board selects a new president
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on June 23, 2022. North Idaho College has a new president — its third in nine months. And as with most things at NIC, it wasn’t easy. A divided board of trustees Wednesday named Nick Swayne the college’s new president. His start date is unclear. Trustees and Swayne will work over […]
A ‘crisis:’ A grim Idaho State Board of Education looks at the looming teacher shortage
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on June 15, 2022 Idaho schools are in the middle of a systemwide, unprecedented teacher hiring “crisis,” State Board of Education member Linda Clark said Wednesday. Clark, a retired West Ada School District superintendent, said the problem goes beyond anything the K-12 system has faced in the past. Historically, public schools […]
Analysis: As a nervous summer begins, schools scramble to fill job vacancies
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on June 9, 2022 It’s the start of a nervous summer for school superintendents and H.R. folks. Idaho has hundreds of teacher vacancies, and many schools can’t find qualified applicants. That could translate into unfilled positions and larger class sizes — and inexperienced teachers in hard-to-fill disciplines such as math, science […]
Analysis: This negotiating season, will teacher pay raises meet expectations?
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on May 26, 2022 Some teachers already know what kind of raises they can expect this year. In Nampa, administrators and union negotiators are just starting to talk about dollars. Idaho school districts and charters have a windfall for teacher salaries: in Nampa, the new money comes to slightly more than […]
State Board of Education fills out troubled North Idaho College board vacancies
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on May 6, 2022 A retired ophthalmologist, a former state senator and a human resources director will round out the North Idaho College’s shorthanded board of trustees. On Friday, the State Board of Education appointed David Wold, John Goedde and Pete Broschet to the NIC board, effective immediately. They will serve […]
‘North Idaho College is in trouble, and that’s why we’re all here’
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on May 5, 2022 State Board of Education officials interview Brad Corkill, left, one of eight applicants for three North Idaho College trustee vacancies. Applicants for unpaid — and possibly short-term — North Idaho College board positions talked about the need to get the troubled two-year school back on track. Several […]
North Idaho College trustees drop lawsuit; candidate interviews Thursday
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on May 3, 2022 With a lawsuit challenging the process now dismissed, interviews for three North Idaho College board vacancies will take place Thursday. The State Board of Education announced its interview schedule Tuesday, a day after NIC’s two remaining trustees dropped their legal challenge to the State Board interviews. Board […]
Idaho State Board of Education names finalists for NIC trustee vacancies
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on May 2, 2022 The State Board of Education has picked finalists for three North Idaho College trustee vacancies — a search process that will continue, despite a lawsuit. State Board officers plan to interview the eight finalists in Coeur d’Alene Thursday, and the full board plans to appoint the new […]
A polarizing presence, at the center of North Idaho College’s dysfunction
This story was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on April 14, 2022. Todd Banducci ran unopposed in November 2020, garnering more than 62,000 votes and securing a third term on North Idaho College’s board of trustees. Since then, the chairman of NIC’s board has been the polarizing presence at the core of NIC’s dysfunction. Banducci led […]
NIC trustees resign; State Board will fill embattled college’s vacancies
This story was originally published on April 8, 2022 on Idaho Education News. Two trustees have resigned at North Idaho College — leaving the embattled college’s board on a skeleton crew, and throwing the State Board of Education into the middle of the fray. Christie Wood and Ken Howard will resign effective May 3. Their […]
Analysis: Schools move quickly, but not easily, into all-day kindergarten
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on April 7, 2022 West Ada and Twin Falls school leaders didn’t waste any time. Days after the Legislature pumped an additional $46.6 million into early literacy, the two districts announced plans to launch all-day kindergarten this fall. And the Boise School District actually beat both districts out of the gate. […]