BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna says public schools will need more flexibility to weather a proposed $27 million midyear cut, including the ability to modify teacher contracts.
Luna says schools districts set aside most of their money for educators’ salaries and a rainy day account to shield K-12 education from cuts in the middle of the year has all but been depleted, leaving few funding sources left.
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter said Monday he aims to balance Idaho’s budget for this year by cutting another $40 million, a plan that calls for trimming public education spending and delaying cash for a livestock research center near Twin Falls.
Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, says she has huge concerns about the cuts to public education, which amount to closing public schools for one day every month until the end of the fiscal year in June.
