Feb 13th 2002
                   What a day!

                   Apparently thinking that setting the public school budget would include
                   the expected amount of debate and decision-making, JFAC leadership
                   published an agenda for today’s meeting that had the committee
                   determining the total appropriation for public schools for next year,
                   writing “intent language” for how those dollars would be spent, and
                   concluding with writing the budget for Idaho’s colleges and universities.
                   Start at 8:00 a.m. Adjourn at 10:30 a.m. Should work.

                   Didn't.

                   Finally, at 11:00 a.m., after rejecting 17 proposals (a new all-time high
                   for any budget decision), JFAC adopted a motion that, if approved by
                   the full House and Senate, will give public schools $920 million for the
                   2002-2003 school year, $13 million less than that recommended by Gov.
                   Kempthorne and $13 million less than originally appropriated for this
                   year.

                   In addition, JFAC recommends that approximately $10 million of
                   "unanticipated funds" originally in this year's budget--money that could
                   have been used to help soften this year's holdback--be taken out of
                   the '01-'02 budget and shifted to '02-'03.

                   (For the record, the high was a motion offered by Sen. Bert Marley
                   [D-McCammon] for $933 million and the low was $912 million made by
                   Rep. Dennis Lake [R-Blackfoot]. The highlight of the morning came
                   when Sen. Marley told his legislative colleagues that he couldn't
                   “morally go below” $933 million. “We’re eating our seed corn,” he said.
                   “I’m glad my kids are out of school and my grandkids live out of state.”)

                   As expected, there’s a lot of detail involved in what was approved; but
                   here’s a quick plus/minus overview:

                           *  Pluses

                                 --None of the K-12 money will be spent on school facilities
                   or      on developing the statewide testing program; funding for the
                   testing program is expected to be included in the budget for the State
                   Board of Education

                                 --$4 million for continued implementation of achievement
                   standards is included

                                 --Moneys for required increments and continuing the state's
                   early retirement incentive program are included

                                 --Continued funding for limited English proficiency,
                   gifted/talented, least restrictive environment, and new teacher support
                   programs will be provided

                            * Minuses (other than it's $13 million less than $933 million!)

                                  --State technology support will drop by $2 million

                                  --Complete elimination of funding for the program that has
                   for several years provided teachers with "innovative grant" moneys

                                  --A reduction in the state's financial support for the K-3
                   reading initiative (from $4 million to $3.3 million).

                   This proposal also includes an interesting new provision--earmarked
                   money to help teachers buy classroom supplies ($2 million). We’ll find
                   out on Thursday how that money would be distributed when JFAC
                   reconvenes to work on this and several other details regarding spending
                   mandates.

                   In a television interview following this decision Rep. Ken Robison
                   (D-Boise), a JFAC member, called it a black day for education in Idaho.
                   And it will likely get worse. Tomorrow it’s expected JFAC will decide to
                   recommend that our state’s colleges' and universities' budgets be cut
                   by 10%-12% for next year, as well.