Hello Friends,
This week has been very active for education! The bill concerning a new career ladder and tiered licensure remains in flux. It was pulled from the Senate Education Committee’s Thursday agenda because of “technical glitches.” The goal is to boost state reimbursement for educators in order to recruit and retain highly skilled educators. It is still unknown as to when the bill will be heard.
In the wake of the IEN contract being declared void, legislators have been left searching for answers. This is due to the fact that appropriating funds to pay for a voided contract is a misuse of public funds. In light of the fact that up to 90% of the network could go dark by the end of this month, the goal now is to protect students and school districts. Senate Pro Tem Brent Hill (R) has asked School Board Members to negotiate individual contracts to continue service. In addition, the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC) will allocate money to help school districts cover these costs. February 26th is the deadline for schools districts to apply for federal reimbursement dollars (E-Rate) for next year which will cover 70% of the cost of connectivity.
In 2012, Idaho bridges and roads received a “C-” rating on a report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Currently, Idaho has 400 bridges that were built before WWII and 700 bridges deemed structurally deficient. This is not only a business issue, but also a serious public safety concern. We need to deal with this problem soon, as the cost of repair and maintenance continues to rise. One proposed solution would raise the gas tax and eliminate the grocery tax, which I support. However, it also introduces a flat tax rate for both personal and corporate income, which I strongly oppose. Stay tuned on this important issue.
As part of my commitment to supporting the health and welfare of Idaho families, I am pleased to report that I am sponsoring a concurrent resolution aimed at addressing diaper need in Idaho. Currently food stamps cannot be used to purchase diapers. Diapers are an essential part of every child’s life, and this resolution is designed to raise awareness for diaper banks, diaper drives, and organizations that distribute diapers to families in Idaho. I am pleased to report that this resolution will enjoy a hearing by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee soon.
Please note that Representative Ilana Rubel, Representative Phylis King, and I, are continuing to host a full slate of D18 Townhall meetings during the 2015 Legislative Session. It is always nice to receive feedback from constituents and to hear your concerns. Here are the dates for our townhalls in February and March. Meetings start promptly at 7 PM.
February 24th at Maple Grove Elementary
(2800 S Maple Grove Road, Boise)
March 3rd at Les Bois Jr. High
(4150 East Grand Forest Drive, Boise)
March 12th at Timberline High
(701 E Boise Ave, Boise)
I also encourage you to follow me on Twitter and “like” my page on Facebook for legislative updates and other up-to-the-minute happenings around the State Capitol.
As always, thank you for your amazing support. It is an honor and a privilege to represent you!
Warmest Regards,
Senator Janie Ward-Engelking
District 18