As a retired teacher and having taught in Idaho for 25 years, I continue to be very concerned about the education of our children. The teachers of Idaho are dedicated to providing an excellent education for their students. I recall General MacArthur saying he was fighting with one hand tied behind his back. And that is the case of our public schools. More funding support is warranted so our children get the education they deserve.
Sadly, Idaho is now 49th in the nation – just shy of the very bottom, the worst – in per-capita state school funding. So, when Dale Ewersen, as a candidate for state senate, says that he supports the current level of state of funding for education, he really means that he is content with keeping Idaho and its children at the bottom.
Idaho’s current level of funding for education is only at the 2009 level. However, this is 2016 and we have 18,000 more students in the system. While Dale may talk about promoting business growth, he does not understand that companies paying good wages will come to Idaho only if we have the educated workforce they require. That requires us investing in education, and not simply supporting the status quo.
Luckily, Michelle Stennett, our state senator in District 26, does understand the importance of education to our children and our economy. She is not satisfied with Idaho being bottom of the barrel. That is why she is a strong advocate for state funding of education focused on the future and for relieving our communities of expensive local tax levies.
We need Michelle Stennett’s vision and leadership, and that is why I am voting for her this November for Idaho State Senate, District 26.
Kathleen Boian
Gooding resident