PROPS: Here they come again

The citizens of Idaho voted down the Luna laws, Propositions 1,2,3, because they realized that they were nothing more than a western omelet made with rotten eggs. Having talked to hundreds of parents, educators and business owners during the campaign, I can guarantee they knew exactly why these laws were bad for students and the state of Idaho. Voters understood that professional educator’s voices needed to not only be respected, but included in the educational decisions at all levels.

Now the Idaho Legislators, thanks to the Idaho School Board Association (ISBA) are serving up another breakfast of rotten eggs. When asked about the new bills, Senator Geodde, chairman of the Education committee, makes the point that some constituents liked parts of the laws. But don’t be fooled, remember that western omelet, it had perfectly good vegetables and cheese in it, but you wouldn’t eat it if you knew it was made with rotten eggs. Idaho legislators and the ISBA think that if they serve you the same ingredients, separately this time, you will swallow it.

The 15 plus new ISBA bills are currently making their way through the Idaho House and Senate are a license to bully. Here are some examples; one bill limits the length of negotiated labor agreements to one or two years. Another one requires negotiations to be finished by June 10 or else the School Board can just impose their last best offer, even though budgets aren’t finalized until the end of June. Let’s not forget the bill that allows the local school board to reduce teachers’ salaries and/or contract length from year to year.

So here’s the scenario, the legislators reduce funding for education, and while wasting time trying to reinvent the Master Agreement every year, the trustees have an excuse to impose lower wages and a longer contract. Do you believe this is the way Idaho will recruit and retain the best educators for our schools? Especially, since Wyoming, Montana, Washington, and Oregon already pay teachers much more than Idaho.

It’s time to tell the Idaho Senate and House representatives you aren’t buying what they are serving. The customer is always right and the customers have already overwhelmingly voted no. The Idaho Constitution that states in Article X, Section 1. “Legislature to establish system of free schools. The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it shall be the duty of the legislature of Idaho, to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools.” Instead of wasting time on bills that have already been defeated by the voters, the legislators should work on adequately funding the public schools. Call your legislator and tell them to respect the process.

KRISTI MILAN, teacher

CEA President

Coeur d’Alene