Education was a big topic at the Idaho Democratic State Convention this past weekend, specifically the drive to make it the No. 1 priority in Idaho.
Nathan Romans | Argonaut
Jana Jones, who will run against Republican Sherri Ybarra for state superintendent of public instruction, said lack of funding for schools — pre-kindergarten all the way through university-level classes — is one of the state’s biggest problems.
Nels Mitchell, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator, agreed with Jones and said that the bad thing about cost of higher education in the state right now is, as public funding decreases, the cost of attendance inevitably increases.
“That just is not sustainable,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell pointed to his opponent — Republican Sen. Jim Risch — voting against a refinancing act for student loans, which would decrease the standard interest rate for educational loans to 3.5 percent.
“Young people are drowning in student loans,” Mitchell said. “I want to help make school affordable for everyone.”
Outgoing Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna has served as a polarizing figure in his eight years as the state’s top education official. Luna was a fierce advocate for charter schools and adding technology to classrooms, but often ran into controversy related to implementation of his programs and his dealings with teachers’ unions.
While some Republicans are coming out against common core, Democrats argue that the standards will move Idaho education in a better direction.
“Common core sets higher, more rigorous standards for students than Bush’s No Child Left Behind,” gubernatorial candidate AJ Balukoff said. “Students graduating under previous policy were not prepared for university.”
Jones, Mitchell and Balukoff said they want to see education grow in Idaho. Jones wants trust to be restored in the Board of Education as well as the position of superintendent of public instruction.
“Idaho’s support for education is the absolute bottom of the barrel–50th in the nation,” Mitchell said.
The Democrat candidates want to see that change.
“The future of the country lies in public education,” Mitchell said.
Claire Whitley can be reached at [email protected]