Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna says he plans to trim his proposed budget of $1.5 billion to reflect a dour state revenue forecast - the product of the national economic crisis in housing and the financial markets.
In September, before state economists and Governor Butch Otter announced the state’s projected earnings outlook, Luna asked for a fiscal 2009 budget that would be $77 million more than the budget for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.
In late September, the governor ordered a 1 percent, $27 million budget holdback for virtually all state agencies, the first in Idaho since 2002.
Otter’s cost-cutting comes after state economists issued new tax revenue forecasts that were 5.9 percent lower than those from February. A dim housing market, higher unemployment and national financial market turmoil have provoked fear an economic slowdown could intensify.
Luna says even though the budget must be revised there are some vital programs that should be funded even in hard times, including a statewide dual credit program, an ongoing initiative to increase the math skills of Idaho students, and his $5.2 million program to give teachers an additional $350 apiece to purchase classroom supplies so they don’t have to dip into their own pockets.
Additionally, Luna says about 40 percent of the $77 million in additional money he requested, or about $30 million, is needed simply to pay for growth based on an anticipated 4,000 to 5,000 new students entering the state’s public school system next year. He also says he’ll fight to preserve a proposal for a merit-pay plan for teachers, one of his priorities since he took office in January 2007. (AP)

A lawmaker from Moscow says he’s concerned with how well an education reserve fund will hold up after Idaho Governor Butch Otter ordered public schools to cut $14 million and delay another $21 million in spending.
Public schools were among the state agencies Otter ordered in September to cut 1 percent in immediate spending and hold an additional 1.5 percent in reserves over worries that the economy will worsen.
The state Department of Education will rely on an education reserve fund state lawmakers created in 2003 to make up for any cuts in public school spending.
But if the agency uses the full 2.5 percent — the 1 percent holdback and 1.5 percent in reserves — it could drain the $115 education fund by as much as $35 million, or 30 percent.
Republican State Representative Tom Trail says the education fund offers Idaho public schools protection, but the money won’t last forever and he is concerned how well the state will be able to replenish these reserves. (AP)

The Washington State University Board of Regents has approved the next step toward construction of a new home for the School for Global Animal Health.

The board authorized the administration to select a consulting firm to help plan and design the building, which will be funded in part through a $25 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. WSU President Elson Floyd says fund-raising for the $10 million match necessary to complete funding of the building is on schedule.

The 39,000-square-foot building will house the research facility that will study diseases between animals and humans. The university plans to begin construction of the facility in fall 2009, with an estimated completion date of fall 2011.

The regents also approved a $1.9 million upgrade to the wireless internet capabilities on the Pullman campus. The project will improve wireless capabilities in all residence halls, classrooms, faculty and staff work areas, common areas between buildings and external walkways. School officials say the upgrades should be completed by June 2009.

Voters in the Lapwai School District have rejected a construction bond for the third time in a row.

School district officials say the $4.45 million bond failed by 57 votes – a two thirds majority was needed to pass the bond, but only 60.5 percent of the votes were “yes.”

The money would have gone to finish a school construction project that began in 2004. Lapwai’s high school and gym were condemned in 2007, and the bond money would have been used for the addition of five classrooms and restrooms for middle school students, additional parking, a new gymnasium and demolition of most of the old high school.

Bonds also fell short of passage in February 2007 and this past March.

A fundraising campaign for Boise State University has passed the $100 million mark.

Just over a year ago the school had raised about $70 million for the campaign dubbed Destination Distinction - at the end of September, the effort had gathered roughly $103 million.

The school hopes to raise a total of 175 million dollars for scholarships, residential programs, classroom buildings, laboratory space, athletics, faculty recruitment, research and other programs. (AP)

Law enforcement officers throughout Idaho will be watching for speed limit violations in school zones now through Oct. 26.

The Idaho Transportation Department reminds drivers that violating a speed limit in a school zone will cost at least $116.50. In July, Idaho lawmakers set a $75 minimum fine for speeding violations in a school zone, plus added court costs of $41.50 for each citation.  Previously, the state had no minimum fine.

The school zone enforcement campaign, funded through ITD’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety, will be held in conjunction with national Teen Driver Safety Week Oct. 20-24. Nationwide, Teen Driver Safety Week will focus on risks of passengers and teen drivers.Research by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia shows that when a 16- to 19-year-old driver adds just one passenger, risks of a fatal crash double - add two passengers and the risk quadruples.

Idaho drivers younger than 18 can expect a fine of $51.50 if they or any passenger under 18 are caught not wearing seat belts.

University of Idaho engineering dean Aicha Elshabini has stepped down after two years on the job.

Elshabini wrote a letter last week to College of Engineering faculty and staff saying she asked UI Provost Doug Baker for six months of administrative leave in addition to her request to leave the dean’s office.

UI officials say Elshabini will keep her faculty position in the college’s electrical and computer engineering department and her position as director of the UI’s Center for Advanced Microelectronics and Biomolecular Research.

Howard Peavy, who has stepped in for a few weeks as interim dean of the college, has worked at the UI for 15 years, first as chair of the civil engineering department, then as associate dean since 1998.

The search for a new president at the College of Idaho has been narrowed down to four finalists who are scheduled to visit the Caldwell campus in November.
Former University of Idaho and current College of Idaho president Bob Hoover plans to retire next year.
The list of candidates includes two administrators from private liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Marjorie Hass is provost at Muhlenberg College and Kent Trachte is dean at Franklin & Marshall College.
Marvin Henberg, who chairs the philosophy department at Linfield College in Oregon, and Thomas Keefe, vice president for advancement at Saint Louis University, are also finalists.
More than 50 people applied for the position at the state’s only private liberal arts college.
Officials expect to name a new C of I president by the end of the year. (AP)