On May 1, the Idaho Education Association (IEA) highlighted its long-standing commitment to public education, while stressing an increased urgency. This urgency comes ahead of the bond and levy elections set for May 20, affecting at least 27 school districts with over $223 million at stake to support local schools.
The IEA is concerned about what they perceive as insufficient support from the Idaho Legislature. The legislative body, described as an “anti-public education majority,” has been criticized for enacting policies seen as detrimental to public education. Voter-approved bonds and levies, they argue, are necessary to fill the funding gap left by the legislature.
Idaho schools are facing critical needs, ranging from funds for teacher pay to safety upgrades. For example, Shelley is proposing a $78.6 million bond for a new high school and career-technical center, while Vallivue’s $14 million levy would fund pay increases, technology, and curriculum development. In West Bonner, a $4.7 million levy aims to prevent the closure of two elementary schools.
To counteract the perceived legislative neglect, the IEA has started the “May Matters” campaign, urging residents to vote not only in next year’s primary election but also this month. The association’s president, Layne McInelly, a veteran Idaho educator, calls upon the public to actively support the schools through this electoral process, stating, “On May 20, if you live in a district with a bond or levy on the ballot, you have a real, immediate opportunity to make a difference.”
McInelly implores Idahoans to recognize their collective power on May 1 and exercise it at the polls on May 20, emphasizing, “Vote for your schools, your kids, your neighbors, and your future.”
