>> SCHOOLS ACROSS IDAHO ARE LAYING OFF STAFF, CUTTING TEACHER PAY, DOWNSIZING THE SCHOOL CALENDAR, AND FINDING EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO MEET THIS YEAR'S BUDGET CRISIS.

WE'RE ROOKING -- LOOKING AT THE COSTS OF SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS AND THE IMPACTS ON YOUR KIDS.

AND WE'RE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS.

STAY TUNED.

"DIALOGUE" IS NEXT.

>> HELLO, I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB, AND ON PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS.

TO BALANCE THE STAYS'S BUDGET, IDAHO LEGISLATORS CUT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL APPROPRIATION BY 7.5%.

THAT MEANS $128.5 MILLION LESS WILL BE GOING TO IDAHO'S CLASSROOMS.

AT THE TIME EDUCATE -- EDUCATORS SAID THIS WAS GOING TO BE BAD, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW BAD.

NOW WE KNOW A BIT MORE.

"DIALOGUE" ASSOCIATE PRODUCER MELANIE CORRY AND I SURVEYED IDAHO'S 115 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, NOT EVERY DISTRICT RESPONDED, BUT THOSE WHO DID, NEXT SCHOOL YEAR WILL LOOK PRETTY BLEAK.

TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SCHOOL STAFF IN THE TWIN FALLS DISTRICT WILL HAVE THE MOST FURLOUGH DAYS AT 14.

EMPLOYEES IN THE WENDELL DISTRICT WILL FACE 13 FURLOUGH DAYS.

AT LEAST FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL GO TO OR WILL HAVE ALREADY GONE TO A FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK.

SIX DISTRICTS HAVE ADDED TIME TO THE SCHOOL DAY TO SHORTEN THEIR ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR.

AND THE STATE HAS ELIMINATED FUNDING FOR ALL FIELD TRIPS, SO MOST DISTRICTS REPORTED THAT THEY WILL BE ENTIRELY DEPENDENT UPON PTOs AND OTHER COMMUNITY FUND-RAISERS TO PAY FOR THESE ACTIVITIES.

SIX SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE CUT OR ELIMINATED JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.

AND THE MELBA DISTRICT ELIMINATED ALMOST ALL OF THEIR MUSIC PROGRAMS.

SO WHAT DO THESE CUTS MEAN TO IDAHO'S KIDS?

HOW DID DISTRICTS DECIDE WHAT PROGRAMS TO PUT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK?

AND WHAT WILL BE THE SHORT AND LONG-TERM IMPACTS?

JOINING ME TO TRY AND ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ARE FOUR GUESTS.

IN OUR POCATELLO STUDIO IS GEOFFREY THOMAS, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MADISON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THANK YOU SIR FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IN OUR MOSCOW STUDIO, MARK MOORER POTLACH DISTRICT MEMBER.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE.

>> AND IN BOISE IS LINDA CLARK, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MERIDIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> AND SHERRI WOOD, PRESIDENT OF THE IDAHO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

GIVE US A CALL, FOLLOW TOLL-FREE, AT 1-800-973-9800.

WHY DON'T WE START.

FRANKLY, WHEN WE TALKED TO 115 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM FOLKS ALL OVER THE STATES, MANY OF THEM WERE IN ALMOST IN TEARS OVER HOW THINGS ARE.

WHAT SCARES YOU MOST ABOUT ALL THE CUTS THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE PIKE?

>> I THINK I'M MOST FRIGHTENED BY THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF THIS.

IN TERMS OF TEACHER RECRUITMENT, IN TERMS OF KEEPING THE QUALIFIED TEACHERS VE WE HAVE WHO ARE GOING TO STRUGGLE, MAKING ENDS MEET, AND ALSO THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF STROG PUT VERY PROGRESSIVE KINDS OF THINGS ON HOLD FOR LACK OF FUNDING.

>> HOW ABOUT IN YOUR SIDE OF THE STATE?

>> WELL, I'D LIKE ECHO WHAT LINDA SAID.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A SHIFT FROM SUPPORT AT THE STATE LEVEL TO FOCUSING THAT SUPPORT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE -- WE HAVE ECONOMIC DISPARITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISTRICTS THAT ARE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE AND DISTRICTS THAT HAVE NOT.

AND ULTIMATELY THE LONG-TERM IMPACT WILL BE NEGATIVELY WILL BE ON OUR CHILDREN.

>> MARK, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I THINK WHAT SCARES ME THE MOST, BESIDES THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY GEOFF AND LINDA, ARE THE ANIMOSITY THAT OCCURRED, THE ACRIMONY WITHIN THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS THAT WE SAW THIS YEAR.

IT WAS AT A HEIGHTENED LEVEL.

WE'RE ALL TRYING TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND BENEFITS TO OUR TEACHERS, AND WHETHER RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, THERE WAS A FEELING THAT THE BOARDS WERE BEING ADVERSE TO THE TEACHERS UNDULY.

AND I THINK THAT WAS VERY UNFORTUNATE, AND SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CORRECT.

>> SHERI?

>> WELL, I GUESS I AGREE WITH MOST OF THE DMEANTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE.

I -- MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER TO OUR CHILDREN.

YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE BUDGET CUTS WERE MADE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO NOT COME TO SCHOOL.

THEY'RE GOING TO STILL COME AT EVEN A LARGER RATE, PROBABLY, IN A LOT OF PLACES, AND IT'S STILL THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS STILL LEFT AT THE FEET OF THE TEACHER WHO DELIVERS INSTRUCTION TO THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THEY'LL GET TO DO IT ON LESS NEXT YEAR AS THEY DID IT ON LESS THIS YEAR, AND SO I FEAR THAT A WHOLE LOT OF QUALITY INSTRUCTION.

NOT QUALITY INSTRUCTION, BUT HOW WE MAINTAIN FOR OUR KIDS AND HOW WELL THEY'LL BE EDUCATED OVER TIME.

>> IN LOOKING AT THE NUMBER WHERE THE CUTS CAME, ONE -- ONE PERSON -- THE STATE LEGISLATORS BALANCED THE BACK OF OUR FUNDING ON THE BACKSF TEACHERS.

THAT IT WAS THE TEACHERS THAT TOOK THE HIT.

>> EVERY PUBLIC EDUCATOR IN THE STATE TOOK THE HIT.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

>> I THINK THE POINT NEEDS TO BE MADE, WE TALK ABOUT THE 7.5% CUT, THE REALITIES FOR THIS YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE CUT FUNDING 4%.

AND NEXT YEAR THE ACCURATE FIGURE IS MUCH GREATER THAN 7.5.

IT'S 9.8%.

WHEN YOU ADD DISCRETIONARY MONEY AND OTHER FUNDING IN THERE.

SO OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, IT'S ABOUT A 14% CUT AND THAT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING TO DEAL WITH.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE INEQUITY OF FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN IDAHO.

WE COULD PROBABLY DO A WHOLE SHOW ON THAT.

BUT TO GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE BACKGROUND, IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IN IDAHO A LONG TIME, THERE WAS A THREE-LEGGED STOOL APPARENTLY IN PLACE FOR FUNDING IDAHO BETWEEN INCOME TAX AND PROPERTY TAX, AND SALES TAX.

AND THEN WHEN SENATOR IRISH WAS THEN GOVERNOR IRISH, THERE WAS A CHANGE, WHERE A LOT OF THE PROPERTY TAX WAS SHIFTED FOR SCHOOLS, WAS SHIFTED TO ESSENTIALLY THE GENERAL NAWND HAS TO DO MORE WITH INCOME THAN SALES, THAT LEG KIND OF CAME OFF, THAT THREE-LEGGED STOOL.

DO YOU THINK THE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN IDAHO IS OUT OF BALANCE?

WHY DON'T WE START WITH YOU, MARK.

DO YOU SEE THAT?

>> WHERE WE GET OUR REVENUE IS, IT'S A DIFFICULT QI.

YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS -- WE AS TRUSTEES ARE OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION, WE GET OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF FUNDING FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

WE CERTAINLY GET REVENUE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHICH SOURCE YOU GO TO AS LONG AS THE SOURCE CAN BE MAINTAINED AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ECONOMIC SWINGS.

ALL OF US HAVE FACED AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN THIS LAST YEAR, AND SO WHETHER WE SAW THAT -- A HIT IN INCOME TAX, OR IN SALES TAX, OR EVEN IN DEVALUATION OF PROPERTY BECAUSE OF LOWER HOUSE SALES, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A REDUCTION THIS YEAR REGARDLESS OF THE SOURCE.

TRYING TO FIND A MEANS TO REBALANCE THE SCALE, IT'S GOING TO BE WHAT WE NEED TO STRIVE FOR FOR THE FUTURE.

WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS, NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING AT THE PAST AND WHERE THE PROBLEM AROSE FROM.

>> I THINK THE BIG CHALLENGE WAS IN CUTTING OFF THE PROPERTY TAX LEG OF THE SCHOOL, WE -- STOOL, WE REMOVED THE MOST STABLE FORM OF FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS.

WE MADE SCHOOLS TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON THE VIGGERIES OF THE ECONOMIC INVASION.

THE CONVERSION OR THE TRANSFER THAT WAS DISCUSSED TO SALES TAX WITH THE ADVENT OF ONE ADDITIONAL CENT MEANT THAT WE STARTED $50 MILLION IN THE HOLE EVERY YEAR WHEN TIMES WERE GOOD.

BECAUSE ONE CENT DIDN'T MAKE UP ALL OF THE MONEY THAT THE PROMPT TAX HAD BEEN DOING.

NOW DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO, THAT $50 MILLION SHORTFALL $150 MILLION OR $180 MILLION IN THIS DOWN ECONOMY.

SO WE HAVE NO STABILITY IN OUR FUNDING.

>> JOAN, I THINK THE REAL CONCERN HERE IS, YOU KNOW, THE -- IN A ONE-DAY SESSION, OVER 100 YEARS OF THIS THREE-LEGGED SCHOOL WAS OVERTURNED IN ONE DAY.

AND I ALWAYS BELIEVED HURRIED LEGISLATION TYPICALLY IS POOR LEGISLATION BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS WILL BE.

AND THAT WAS THE CONCERN TO ME, AND AT THAT TIME I EXPRESSED THE CONCERN THAT MANY HAD.

I SAID, WELL, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE GO TO SALES TAX, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ECONOMY GOES DOWN?

IN 2006 THE ECONOMY WAS BOOMING.

AND I WAS ASSURED TIME AND AGAIN THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION WOULD BE PROTECTED.

AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE.

AND SO I THINK SOME FORM OF REVISN BACK TO THAT MORE STABLE FORM OF TAX WOULD BE A VERY WISE MOVE BY THE LEGISLATURE.

>> LET ME THROW OUT THE QUESTION THAT ACTUALLY YOU, SIR, BROUGHT UP EARLIER IN THE SHOW, THAT THIS MIGHT END UP PUTTING US BACK INTO A CASE WHERE WE HAVE -- HAVE NOT VE AND HAVE NOT DISTRICTS.

ARE WE GOING TO SEE A LAWSUIT UNDER IDAHO'S CONSTITUTION, WE'RSUPPOSED TO HAVE FAIR, EQUITABLE, FREE EDUCATION.

AND HAS -- AS FEES ARE INCREASED, AS THINGS GET CUT, WILL WE END UP BACK IN COURT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE CONCERN -- THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUED THEM OVER LACK OF FUNDING FOR FACILITIES.

SO WE AS A DISTRICT, WE CAN'T SUE THE LEGISLATURE ANYMORE.

HOWEVER, IF A LAWSUIT WERE TO OCCUR, WOULD IT HAVE TO BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BROUGHT FORTH BY A PATRON OR CONCERNED PARENT.

MY CONCERN IS INEQUITY.

THE IDAHO CONSTITUTION IS CLEAR IN ITS MANDATE THAT ALL CHILDREN THROUGH IDAHO WILL RECEIVE A GENERAL UNIFORM EDUCATION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WHAT I'M SEEING NOW IS, YOU KNOW, DISTRICT HAVE AND HAVE NOT DISTRICTS, COMMUNITIES THAT CAN PASS A SUPPLEMENTAL LEVY WILL, DISTRICTS THAT CANNOT WON'T, AND THERE WILL BE ECONOMIC, EDUCATION DISPARITIES IN THE SYSTEM THAT SHOULD BE THOROUGH AND FAIR FOR ALL IDAHO CHILDREN.

>> IT REALLY WOULDN'T BE AN OVERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT ALL OF THE MEASURES THAT THE LEGISLATURE PUT IN PLACE AS A RESULT OF THE ORIGINAL LAWSUIT, NOT THE FACILITIES ONE THAT WAS MENTIONED, BUT THE ORIGINAL FUNDING LAWSUIT HAVE BEEN UNDONE.

AND THAT THOSE DISPARITY AND MAYBE EVEN GREATER ONES, EXIST OR AT LEAST LOOM IN THE FUTURE.

WHAT WE SAW THIS YEAR WAS THE UNWILLINGNESS OF A LEGISLATURE TO RAISE TAXES OR TO MAKE ADJUSTMENT IN SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS, AND ESSTIALLY TO THE PATRON, IF YOU WANT TO FUND SCHOOLS, AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL, YOU TAX YOURSELVES.

BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO, WE ARE NOT.

>> LET'S GET -- >> WE ALSO HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE WHEREIN EACH STUDENT RECEIVES THE SAME DOLLAR AROUND THE STATE FROM THE STATE IN TERMS OF STATE FUNDING.

SO THAT IS CERTAINLY IN PLACE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT AGAINST THE DESIRE OF A LOCAL COMMUNITY TO HAVE SELF-DIRECTION, SELF-CONTROL, AND TO OFFER PROGRAMS LOCALLY THAT ARE MORE PERTINENT TO THAT COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S -- I THINK IT WOULD BE -- IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO OFFER THE SAME PROGRAMS IN BOISE AS ARE OFFERED IN BONNER'S FERRY.

JUST BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS RESOURCES NOT JUST ECONOMIC RESOURCES, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE RESOURCES WHO ARE THERE.

>> THAT'S THE LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

I HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE THAT WE ALL GET THE SAME DOLLAR.

WITH THE 4,000R,300 DOLLARS PER STUDENT WE'RE GETTING NEXT YEAR, WE'RE SIGNIFICANTLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PER PEOPLE EXPENDITURES, AND PER PUPIL REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN.

THERE'S A GREAT DISPARITY AMONGST THE DISTRICTS IN TERMS OF ACTUAL DOLLARS THEY GET.

WE HAVE SOME ECONOMY OF SCALE, BUT THAT ONLY GOES SO FAR, AND WE'RE WELL PAST THAT.

>> WE'VE GOT SE PHONE CALLERS WE WANT TO GET TO.

GLEN?

>> Caller: HI, JOAN.

THANKS FOR TAKING MY CALL.

THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOUR GUESTS GUESTS.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY FOR SCHOOLS, AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR SPORTS?

>> OK.

WE CAN KIND OF TALK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT THE REALITY IS, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO GO.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THOSE KIDS WHO NO LONGER CAN PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS, BECAUSE THE PROGRAMS AREN'T THERE ANYMORE?

>> I THINK YOU SAW THAT IN YOUR -- YOU REPORTED EARLIER THAT SOME DISTRICTS ARE CUTTING MUSIC AND EXA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AT LEAST IN THE JUNIOR HIGH AND I BELIEVE IN THE TWIN FALLS AREA THERE'S A DISCUSSION ABOUT CUTTING ATHLETICS TOTALLY BY 10%.

I BELIEVE THAT WAS DISCUSSED BY THE -- WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT.

>> THE CLARK DISTRICT IS ELIMINATING THEM ALL ENTIRELY?

>>HAT'S CORRECT.

AND I AM ASSUMING IT'S GOING TO FALL ON THE PARENTS THAT CAN AND THAT HAVE ABILITY TO PAY TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO COMMUNITY CENTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE OFFERED AT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SOME PLACES.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE SCHOOL IS PROBABLY THE CENTRAL LOCATION FOR MOST SMALL RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THEIR TOWN.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN POTLACH, OUR SCHOOL IS USED FOR EVERYTHING FROM THE CONCERTS, TO THE ARTISTIC PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED, TO THE HALLOWEEN EVENTS, AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE -- THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO OFFER WHAT THEY CAN, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF IT MAY HAVE TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY'RE FUNDED THROUGH PAY-TO-PLAY PROGRAMS, OR FUNDED THROUGH BOOSTER PROGRAMS, OR WHATEVER OTHER MEANS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT.

AND THAT'S JUST PART OF I THINK TIGHTENING THE BELT WE HAVE TO DO.

>> LET'S GO TO FELICIA.

GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: HI, JOAN.

THIS IS MY QUESTION -- SUPERINTENDENT LUNA FOUND OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE AT THE LAND BOARD.

I'M WONDERING, HAVE ANY OF YOU BEEN ABLE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND COME UP WITH MAYBE SOME OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE WE HAVEN'T TAPPED YET, OR COULD LOOK INTO WITHOUT RAISING TAXES?

>> OK.

>> OUR DISTRICT HAS LOOKED VERY HARD AT REVENUE, AND WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE, WE HAVE A NEW FACILITY WE PURCHASED AN OLD WAREHOUSE BUILDING AND CONVERTED IT, AND WE ARE LEASING SPACE.

WE ARE -- WE LOOKED AT ALL THE LEASES WE HAVE, RENTALS AND -- THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT AND WE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THAT REVENUE STREAM.

AND WE'RE LOOKING ACTIVELY FOR OTHERS.

WE'RE ENGAGED IN LOOKING AT PROJECTS FOR SOLAR AND OTHER SORTS OF WAYS, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE AS THE CALLER POINTS OUT, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE REVENUE SIDE, AND THERE ARE OTHER IEWFS FOR SCHOOL TO GENERATE FUNDS.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN KEEP GOING TO OUR PARENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

GO TO THEM A LOT ANYWAY, AND THEN WE ASK THEM TO STEP UP AND PASS BONDS, AND STEP UP AND PASS SUPPLEMENTAL LEVIES, AND PASS PLANT FACILITY LEVIES.

AT SOME POINT WE CAN'T JUST KEEP GOING THERE.

SO, YES, ABSOLUTELY, WE'RE STEPPING WAY OUT OF THE BOX TO LOOK AT THOSE OTHER THINGS.

>> JOAN, AS FAR AS -- YOU KNOW, ASIDE FROM PROPERTY TAX AND INCOME TAX, I'VE PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO RAISE A FEE ON POP, BOTTLED WATER, AND ENERGY DRINKS IN THE STATE FAIR IDAHO.

IT'S A USER FEE.

A PERSON DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE THESE THINGS.

IF YOU PAY 79 CENTS AT A CONVENIENCE STORE FOR YOUR 44-OUNCE, YOU'LL PAY 89 CENTS.

AND THAT MONEY HAS BEEN ESTIMATED TO GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION FOR THE STATE OF IDAHO.

AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY WITHOUT INCURRING A LOT OF PAIN THAT THE TRADITIONAL TAXES CAUSE PATRONS.

>> WE HAVE AN EMAIL QUESTION FROM JULIE.

HOW IS THE STATE'S LONG-TERM NEGLECT OF EDUCATION COULD AFFECT THE ABILITY TO ATTAIN AND ATTRACT BUSINESSES?

>> WELL, I BELIEVE IT'S -- IT WILL HAVE A DWEF 90 EFFECT.

I 30 WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE STATESMAN JUST A WEEK AGO WHERE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES WERE SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME HERE BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT OUR POLICYMAKERS ARE NOT PUTTING AN EMPHASIS ON OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO READ ANY PAPER IN THE STATE AND SEE YET ANOTHER ARTICLE OF HOW WE'RE NOT FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS.

THEY CAN SEE IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THAT THIS IS MR.

LUNA AND OUR LEGISLATURE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE STATE OF IDAHO, HAVE WE CUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE A HUGE EFFECT ON ENTICING BUSINESSES TO COME HERE.

>> I THINK THERE'S A HUGE DISCONNECT FOR POLICYMAKERS WHO TALK A LOT ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BEING THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT THE DOTS IN TERMS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND IF ONE WERE TO TALK TO ANY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS FOR THE CITIES, YOU WOULD GET A LIST FROM THEM OF COMPANIES THAT GET UP TO MAKING THE DECISION AND SAY WE REALLY WOULD LOVE TO COME TO IDAHO FOR ALL THESE REASONS.

BUT WE'RE AFRAID TO COME BECAUSE OF THE STATE'S LACK OF COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION.

>> MARK I HEARD YOU SIGHING UP IN MOSCO.

>> WELL, I WAS THINKING OF THE ARTICLE THAT SHERRI WAS SPEAKING OF, AND I THOUGHT THAT PARTICULAR ARTICLE WAS DIRECTED MORE TOWARDS HIGHER EDUCATION, NOT THE K-12 EDUCATION THAT WE PREDOMINANTLY DEAL WITH IT.

IS A CONCERN, CERTAINLY OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE THE FUNDAMENTALS THAT WE PROVIDE THEM IN THE SCHOOLS, BUT I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT OUR ISAT SCORES AND OTHER SCHOOLS, IDAHO SCHOOLS ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.

I THINK OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING A VERY GOOD JOB IN PROVIDING THOSE FUNDAMENTALS TO OUR STUDENTS.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS JUST THE ONLY FACTOR IN THE EQUATION.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY FACTOR.

>> LET ME ASK THIS TO ALL FOUR OF YOU.

DO YOU THINK PARENTS ARE READY FOR THIS WHEN SCHOOL GETS BACK GOING IN SEPTEMBER?

ASSUMING -- YOU ALL AFTER SUDDEN HAVE ALL THE CHANGES COMING FORTH?

ARE PARENTS READY?

>> I THINK THAT THE 88% YES VOTE IN OUR ELECTION THIS WEEK WITH THE LARGEST TURNOUT WE'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME, IS A STRONG INDICATOR THAT OUR PARENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF RESOURCES AND WILLING TO GIVE THE DISTRICTS THE KINDS OF TOOLS THEY NEED.

THIS WAS NOT A TAX QUESTION, IT WAS A QUESTION OF SHIFTING MONEY.

BUT STILL, VERY STRONG TURNOUT, VERY STRONG SUPPORT, CLEARLY THEY RECOGNIZE THERE'S A PROBLEM AND WE NEED A LOT OF TOOLS TO ADDRESS THEM.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF -- WE'VE HAD PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE'VE PUT THINGS ON OUR WEBSITE, WE'VE TRIED TO BE AS CLEAR AS WE CAN WITH PARENTS EXACTLY THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING.

WE HAVE AN INFORMED GROUP OF PARENTS IN MADISON COUNTY, BOTH FOR THE SALEM SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE WELL INFORMED, THEY READ NEWSPAPERS, THEY WATCH AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

VERY INVOLVED, AND I THINK THEY'RE READY.

HOWEVER, WHEN WE'RE IN THE DEPTHS OF WINTER AND SOME OF THOSE REDUCED CONTESTS, REDUCED OPPORTUNITIES ARE COMING THROUGH, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE PAINFUL.

BUT I THINK OVERALL PEOPLE ARE PREPARED.

THEY UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE ECONOMY, THEY UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE LEGISLATURE HAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'VE DONE AT THE PUBLIC -- TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, SO I THINK THE PARENTS UNDERSTAND.

>> MARK?

>> WELL, I DO BELIEVE THE PARENTS UNDERSTAND.

I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A TIMBER DHAP IS JUST BACK TO WORK, THAT'S JUST ADDED ANOTHER SHIFT ON, THOSE PARENTS ARE EXCITED ABOUT BEING BACK TO WORK, BACK TO BEING EMPLOYED SO THEY CAN PAY THEIR BILLS AND PAY THEIR TAXES, AND TO SUPPORT THEIR KIDS.

AND THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A CONTINUATION OF THAT EMPLOYMENT.

WHICH TRIGGERS THE THOUGHT OF, WELL, IF I CAN PAY THOSE THINGS AND DO THOSE THINGS, WHAT WILL MY SON OR MY DAUGHTER BE DOING THIS FALL?

WHERE WILL THE VOMLY BALL GAMES BE, WHERE WILL THE FOOTBALL GAMES BE, WHAT CAN I SCHEDULE?

THEY WILL OCCUR.

AND I THINK DR.

CLARK IS QUITE CORRECT.

I THINK WE HAVE A MORE INFORMED ELECTORATE THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, BECAUSE EVERYONE IS PAYING CLOSER ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS DONE WITH THE FUNDING DOLLAR.

WHETHER AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> DO YOU THINK THE TEACHERS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SEE?

>> I BELIEVE THAT THE TEACHERS HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF TH ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE MANY OF OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE -- MOST OF OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE VERY FRUSTRATED, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE WITH LESS.

I THINK -- YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT IT AND IF YOU THINK OF A TEACHER WHO IS GOING TO BE A THIRD-YEAR TYPIER NEXT YEAR, AND WHEN THEY STARTED IN '08 AND '09, THEY MADE $31,750.

AND THEN THEY CAME BACK FOR A SECOND CONTRACT AND CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR PAY IS CUT TO $30,915.

AND NEXT YEAR THEY LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER CUT, AND THEY'LL BE DOWN TO $29,655.

THAT'S NOT -- THAT DOESN'T PLAY OUT ALL ACROSS THE STATE, IN THOSE NUMBERS, DEPENDING ON HOW THE DISTRICTS PAY.

BUT IT'S LIKE, TELL ME AGAIN WHY I SPENT FOUR YEARS IN COLLEGE SO I COULD START AT ONE SALARY, GET CUT MY SECOND YEAR, AND GET CUT MY THIRD YEAR?

>> THOUGH WE DID GET AN EMAIL QUESTION FROM WALTER WHO WANTS TO KNOW, OTHER STATE EMPLOYEES HAVE TAKEN SALARY CUTS OR LOST THEIR JOBS, WHY NOT TEACHERS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK I SAID THAT TEACHERS AND EVEN THOUGH MARK SAID THERE WERE CONTENTIOUS BARGAINING SESSIONS OUT THERE, THERE WERE.

THERE WERE IN SEVERAL PLACES.

AND -- BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU, IN 114 DISTRICTS, THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL THAT THINGS WENT SOUTH.

AND SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE TEACHERS WERE ASKING FOR ANYTHING THAT THEY DIDN'T THINK WAS FAIR, AND AFFORDABLE.

>> WE'VE GOT A FEW PEOPLE WAITING ON THE PHONE.

IF WE DON'T GET TO YOU, PLEASE HANG WITH US AND WE'LL GET YOU WHEN WE GO TO OUR WEB EXTRA AFTER THE FACT.

LET ME GET A CALL IN FROM WENDELL.

>> Caller: YES, JOAN.

THIS IS FOR MRS.

WOODS.

AS FAR AS YOUR CONCERN ON TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND THE CUTS TEACHERS HAVE HAD, HOW DO WE COMPARE TO OUR NEIGHBORING STATES, OREGON AND WASHINGTON, AND MONTANA, FOR INSTANCE, UTAH, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE TEACHERS THERE?

>> WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME, SO I'M GOING TO LIMIT YOU TO THAT ONE QUESTION.

>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN WYOMING WE LOSE TEACHERS ALL THE TIME TO WYOMING, BECAUSE THEY HAVE FARED RATHER WELL IN THIS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO MAKE ANY CUTS, AND BECAUSE OF THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE THERE, THEY HAVE TEACHERS STARTING AT $40,000 AND QUICKLY MAKING THEIR WAY TO $50,000.

WE LOSE TEACHERS TO WASHINGTON, WE LOSE TEACHERS TO OREGON, NOT SO MUCH TO MONTANA, BECAUSE WE'RE PROBABLY CLOSER AS FAR AS PAY COMPARISONS IN MONTANA.

I HAD LEGISLATORS TELL ME, YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO WASHINGTON, BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING CUTS AS WELL.

WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT APPLES TO APPLES.

WASHINGTON START OUT A LOT HIGHER, SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF CUTS TO BE ABLE TO BE DOWN TO WHERE WE ARE.

>> WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU ONE LAST CHANCE TO GET A COMMENT.

ARE WE GOING TO LOSE OUT ON THE QUALITY EDUCATION THIS NEXT TIME WHEN WE START IN THE ?AL HAVE WE MADE THE CUTS TO THE POINT WHERE QUALITY IS GOING TO BE IN QUESTION?

>> I DO NOT BELIEVE SO.

I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN OUR EDUCATORS, IN OUR SYSTEM, AND IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO ANNUAL GROWTH FOR EVERY STUDENT.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE ALL THEY HAVE, ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO GIVE ALL THEY HAVE, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR STUDENTS.

>> GEOFF?

>> I -- WE HAVE THE FINEST EDUCATORS IN THE NATION.

THE FINEST TEACHERS, FINEST ADMINISTRATORS, AND THE BEST SCHOOL BOARDS IN THE NATION.

AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE COMMITTED TO QUALITY AND EXCELLENT EDUCATION.

I DON'T SEE WE'RE GOING TO SEE A REDUCTION IN THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN THIS STATE.

>> MARK, ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

>> I WOULD CONCUR WITH WHAT GEOFFREY JUST SAID WITH THE ADDITION OF, THE SCHOOL BOARDS ARE WORKING VERY HARD WITH THE LEGISLATIVE PEOPLE IN BOISE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS.

WE ARE -- WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE TEACHERS AND WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

AND I THINK WE'LL SEE SUCCESS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> I BELIEVE THAT EDUCATORS GOT INTO THE BUSINESS OF WORKING WITH KIDS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO.

BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT EDUCATORS NEED TO MAKE A LIVING.

AND SO WE HAVE TO PAY OUR TEACHERS TO KEEP THEM HERE, AND -- THAT'S ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT GETS.

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