OPINION: Little is not the education governor

Last Tuesday, the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Scholarship Breakfast. More than 200 of our area’s best and brightest students gathered at The Coeur d’Alene Resort where they received applause and the financial support for college they worked tirelessly to earn. 

For many years, the Kootenai County Democrats have proudly sponsored scholarships for these students. Supporting public education is one of our core values, and a pillar of our state platform. 

Over the years, the number of businesses and applicants participating in the Scholarship Breakfast Program increased. As more businesses participated, the size of the scholarships has grown from $500 per student to $1,000 per student.

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe deserves enormous credit for the success of this program. The Tribe challenged businesses to participate by matching each scholarship, doubling it to $2,000 per student. 

The Chamber Scholarships speak volumes for the level of support for education at the Chamber and throughout our community. As The Press recently pointed out, the individuals and entities that come together in support of the Chamber Scholarship Program are far greater than their numbers would indicate.

On a local level, Kootenai County exhibits a strong commitment to supporting public education. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Governor Little or for the Legislature. 

The Idaho Constitution clearly states that “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.”

But the Lakeland, Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene and other districts have to campaign every two years to get levies passed simply to make ends meet.

Facilities too are left to deteriorate.

Kids are well aware that their technology equipment is old and outdated. They know that building maintenance is neglected. They also know when extra-curricular activities, school resource officers, and school nurses are no longer available.

Idaho’s teachers are shockingly underpaid. 

Lack of overall funding for education is the shameful legacy of this Governor.

Our Legislature shares the blame. This year alone, legislators slashed a staggering $19 million from colleges and universities for workforce and diversity, equity and inclusion programs, $30 million cut from the Empowering Parents Grant program, and $68 million cut from public schools.

With Idaho’s schools already underfunded, why would legislators make such drastic cuts to education?

To fund tax breaks for the rich while maintaining a balanced state budget. 

This year the ultra rich will see tax savings of thousands of dollars. Yet, those earning between $55,000 and $91,000 per year will actually pay $100 more in taxes. And those earning between $35,000 and $50,000 per year will see no benefit at all. 

In addition, this year the governor made a particularly disastrous choice when he declined to veto legislation that diverted more than 50 million public dollars to private and religious schools through a voucher program.

Governor Little failed to veto the voucher bill even though it lacked two vital elements he said would prompt him to veto it: accountability and a funding cap. The administrative costs of implementing this program are already blowing the cost to taxpayers for vouchers far past that $50 million estimate.  

As more parents claim the deduction, the voucher program will surely balloon in cost because it has no cap. Voucher expenses will undermine the budgets of all public schools, particularly those in rural areas.

It is no exaggeration to say that, because of Governor Little and the Republicans in the Legislature, many Idaho kids will be hurt. Whatever chance they might have had to succeed, they will see that chance fade away.

Idaho’s politicians should have the courage to stand up for what they know is both lawful and morally correct.

Instead they cave in to far right extremists who think homeschooling and private religious schools can somehow replace public schools. 

Private and religious schools do not have to accept all kids regardless of their native language or learning ability. They do not have to accept kids whose parents cannot afford the tuition, even with the $5,000 per child tax rebate. And they do not have to meet the same standards imposed on public schools for teacher education, curriculum and extracurricular programs.

Private schools cannot replace public schools. Not now. Not ever.

Democrats agree with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, the Chamber of Commerce, and the students. If only the governor and the Legislature felt the same dedication that we feel. For Governor Little to bask in the limelight of our achievement is more than ironic; it is outrageous.

Imagine how many more top flight graduates we would see if the schools were properly funded.

Only fully funded public schools can meet the intellectual, moral, and cultural needs of our kids, and help us all build a more perfect union.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.