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Analysis: School choice is a quagmire for Critchfield, and a proxy fight for Idaho’s GOP
This story was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on Jan. 19, 2023. For Idaho’s new superintendent of public instruction, private schools are a political quagmire. Debbie Critchfield stepped right back into the muck Monday. Appearing before the Senate Education Committee — and fielding a question from Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, a stalwart school choice advocate — […]
Analysis: Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s ambitious scholarship plan is still a rough draft
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on January 12, 2023 In a surprise from his State of the State address Monday, Gov. Brad Little unveiled an ambitious $80 million-a-year scholarship program. It would be, by far, Idaho’s largest taxpayer-funded scholarship. And Idaho’s most versatile scholarship. High school graduates could use the money to pursue a two- or […]
North Idaho College’s interim president has a contract through June 2024
This story was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on Jan. 4, 2023. North Idaho College’s new interim president has a contract that runs at least 18 months — at $235,000 a year. In addition, Greg South will receive a $35,000 signing bonus, and contributions into his retirement account worth an additional $35,000 a year. South’s contract, […]
Chairman Lent on 2023 session: ‘A very interesting year ahead of us’
This story was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on Jan. 3, 2023. The new chairman of the Senate Education Committee brings a wide-ranging background to the job. Before Dave Lent was elected to the Legislature, he served a dozen years on the Idaho Falls School Board. Lent has served not only on Senate Education, but on […]
Suspect arrested in connection with University of Idaho slayings
Originally published and updated on IdahoEdNews.org on Dec. 30, 2022. A Washington State University student has been arrested in Pennsylvania in connection with the Nov. 13 slayings of four University of Idaho students. Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, was arrested in Pennsylvania’s Pocono mountain region; according to ABC News, he was arrested at a location where he’d […]
The latest at NIC: A lawsuit, a warning letter, a series of no-confidence votes
This story was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on Dec. 19, 2022. It’s been a news-filled few days for North Idaho College — and none of the news is good. On Friday, President Nick Swayne sued the college, protesting trustees’ Dec. 8 decision to put him on paid administrative leave. On Saturday, a regional governing body […]
NIC places president on administrative leave
This story was first published on IdahoEdNews.org on Dec. 9, 2022. A divided North Idaho College board of trustees has placed President Nick Swayne on administrative leave, and trustees are talking about bringing back former wrestling coach and interim president Michael Sebaaly on a temporary basis. The moves came Thursday night, after a lengthy closed […]
‘Not where we’d like to be:’ Idaho’s school safety assessments slowed during pandemic
This story was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on Dec. 6, 2022. State inspectors try to get out into every school once every three years for a safety assessment. They didn’t come close to staying on schedule in 2021-22 — because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted K-12 operations across the state. All told, the state […]
University of Idaho considering scenarios for spring semester as murder investigations continues
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on November 29, 2022 As the University of Idaho concludes a fall semester marred by tragedy, university officials are weighing their options for spring. And that might include expanded online offerings for students who are uneasy about being on campus. Before the holiday break, the U of I hopes to have […]
Requests for welfare checks surge in aftermath of University of Idaho student slayings
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on November 28, 2022 As classes resume Monday at the University of Idaho, police have reported a big uptick in calls for welfare checks. Since Nov. 13 — the day four U of I students were found slain in an off-campus house — the Moscow Police Department has received 78 “calls […]
Analysis: A week of unspeakable tragedy and unanswered questions at University of Idaho
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on November 17, 2022 When he decided to keep the University of Idaho campus open this week, President Scott Green said he “relied heavily on the expertise of the Moscow Police Department.” Green’s vote of confidence came during a news conference that inspired little confidence. Police said they have no suspect […]
‘We cannot say there is no threat to the community’
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on November 16, 2022 In their first news conference since four University of Idaho students were found slain in an off-campus house, law enforcement officers conceded that the killer remains at large. “We do not have a suspect at this time, and that individual is still out there,” Moscow Police Chief […]