[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6326964,"mediaKeyId","2323564-33530ceb21c0958a861915d720690ce5","parentId",2323564,"title","Senate Education panel advances bill easing spousal-employment limits for smallest school districts","audioSeconds",992,"startMs",74000,"endMs",1066000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323564-33530ceb21c0958a861915d720690ce5&start=74&end=1066","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323564-33530ceb21c0958a861915d720690ce5/thumbnail_74000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6326964/Idaho/Senate-Education-panel-advances-bill-easing-spousal-employment-limits-for-smallest-school-districts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326964-101c0c1bec2a608da93210d6c86934be/orig.mp4?Expires=1775168033&Signature=nLZhsSXqknGb6tiT5FFTMidPp4PdgcmttKETJ4LP3y8NXOAEqxWxax-7zKMvt6lE~nqfNQe3S43U49KUDYKiVPw1I~DMClErWNUlXWvd4ViKvwNzFJoLKtRt2Btvd4mBnwJBR-RTO5UP5ZyTRAlvLeKIEu0yokhGjVXDbMc0qeXSrWRZRG9CzVGmugdY53LGF7NfsdU6FVf45xYED9x3NUbswvjivT3-Cq4NyIw8zygLRIbx8gcLP8gNddIfQCdI3BFw6EJCwPBuzcWyRVFAQvGTf6A4vPmES4rIx~RomTw-b1-K5XuP9alE~3pahLcKILdPkpZUFwhO~np8lIfg-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate of Idaho","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 10 45, a bill that would relax limits on trustees' spouses holding certain employment in very small school districts, was sent to the Senate floor with a \"do pass\" recommendation after the Senate Education Committee heard testimony from school-district representatives and a trustee.

The bill would create a limited exception to the statute identified in testimony as \"33 5 0 7\" for districts with a fall enrollment of 400 students or fewer. Under the change described by proponents, spouses of trustees who hold contracted certificated positions such as teachers or pupil-service staff could be hired under contracts that carry more due-process protections than the current category 1 hire, provided the related trustee abstains from any discussion or votes related to that spouse’s employment. The provision would not apply to administrators. Supporters also noted the bill includes a sunset date of June 30, 2030.

Quinn Perry, deputy director of the Idaho School Boards Association, told the committee \"33 5 0 7 is a section of code that essentially puts limits on what trustees can and cannot do\" and explained the bill is intended to address recruiting and retention in the state's smallest districts. Perry said the existing rule requires a 60-day posting for positions and that, in many tiny districts, \"they're getting 0 applicants,\" making the posting requirement \"moot.\" Perry said the change would allow a trustee's spouse to move from a category 1 contract (which expires each school year and carries minimal due process) to a category 2 contract that is treated like other certificated staff.

Jake Michie, a Moonville School District trustee who testified in support, said small districts often lack candidates and that allowing the exception would keep experienced, community-invested staff in place. \"For small school districts like mine, this bill is particularly beneficial,\" Michie said, adding that the temporary sunset provides a built-in review mechanism.

Committee members asked several clarifying questions. Senator Cook asked why the 60-day posting requirement posed a problem; Perry replied that in some districts the posting yields no applicants and the inability to give a longer contract prevents continuity for staff. Senator Burton Shaw asked why the threshold was 400 students; Perry said the Midvale School District proposed the 400-student cutoff after earlier considering 250 and that the number was intended to limit the exception to \"super small\" districts. Perry said about 40 Idaho districts have fall enrollments of 400 students or fewer.

The committee approved a motion \"to send Senate Bill 10 45 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.\" Senator Nichols moved the motion; another senator seconded. The committee voice vote concluded with \"aye\" and no recorded opposition.

The bill sponsor and proponents framed the change as narrowly targeted and temporary; supporters emphasized abstention and limits on administrative roles. Opponents did not mount a formal objection at the hearing, and the bill will now go to the Senate floor for further consideration.

Votes at a glance: The committee recorded a voice vote on the motion to advance Senate Bill 10 45; the motion carried on a voice vote, \"all in favor, aye.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Education Meeting February 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 10 45, a bill that would relax limits on trustees' spouses holding certain employment in very small school districts, was sent to the Senate floor with a \"do pass\" recommendation after the Senate Education Committee heard testimony from school-district representatives and a trustee.","taxTitle","Education, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Idaho","taxId",28585,"location","Idaho","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326961,"Committee sends public-comment cleanup bill to amending order after split testimony",2099,1067000,3166000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323564-33530ceb21c0958a861915d720690ce5&start=1067&end=3166","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323564-33530ceb21c0958a861915d720690ce5/thumbnail_1067000.jpg","/articles/6326961/Idaho/Committee-sends-public-comment-cleanup-bill-to-amending-order-after-split-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326961-3af160cb9f31c3bbaae3ec2472ae428c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775168033&Signature=KAsUKwnlGRtyWSNPdOwN-jp-IsS1Je71YAu8quXltcymHacCu1Com6A9Vmn6qej7bkH0f5-RnDclovU52D5YA1LZpPN1FWRNU~5OMU633~x5KAyYYDmZfGV53m~IpTYYN2xncOzpD~zQ1SkhuZMfIYGPGymcWLWYprA6sj7KkzI4mOcJK32tPLrHDHHH7nsgLTOKzd1dB37XWfhQB2ysWL9kJtAXK4hpMi7vkzCclM4XUUb-t~AJ~HZR1356v06g2a0YMlTfLdPgOvI3WAtJTIxhxbAIfNod65~MM850r9e9pMxMElHXA7YANOBS4I~CAEydJ~Rqpyem51NdCDp0KA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Education Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1007 to the fourteenth order for possible amendment after hours of testimony and questions about whether removing a statutory sentence limiting public comment to agenda items would broaden public participation or undermine meeting procedures.

Senator Cindy Carlson introduced the bill as a cleanup of language from a prior enactment identified in testimony as Senate Bill 1361. Carlson said the sentence proposed for removal — \"Public comment shall be limited to items listed on the meeting agenda\" — has led some districts to deny patrons the chance to speak and has prevented opportunities for constituents to raise concerns that fall outside a posted agenda.

Several patrons and school officials spoke in favor. Melanie Phillips, a parent from Kuna, described pressing her own district for six months on using \"advanced opportunities\" funding for driver's education. Phillips said her public comments prompted administrators to research the issue and the district approved an approach that she estimated \"has saved a community about a half a million dollars and counting.\" Christina Hardy, a District 23 resident, said in five years she rarely sees public comment used at board meetings and that allowing nonagendized comment produced only a small time burden in her district. Leslie Bjerke, vice chair of the Coeur d'Alene School Board, said her board historically allowed patrons to speak about nonagenda matters without incident and that the board preferred to set local parameters.

Quinn Perry, deputy director of the Idaho School Boards Association, testified in opposition. Perry said the change would remove a carefully negotiated limit enacted last session and could turn board meetings into a \"free for all\" in some circumstances. Perry warned school boards sometimes act in a quasi-judicial capacity — for example in expulsions or termination hearings — and that airing grievances in open comment could bias later proceedings. Perry also noted the statute requires agendas be posted 48 hours in advance and questioned how removing the agenda limitation would interact with open-meeting requirements.

Senators discussed possible compromises, with Perry saying the association had offered alternative language but that Senate Bill 1007 as written \"does not get us there.\" Senator Woodward moved to send the bill to the fourteenth order for possible amendment; the motion carried on a voice vote. Earlier in the hearing, Senator Zito offered a motion to send the bill to the floor with a due pass that failed for lack of a second.

Committee members also requested additional information: Senator Woodward asked the committee staff to arrange a briefing from the Idaho State Department of Education about eligible uses of the \"advanced opportunities\" program, after witnesses described using that funding for driver's education.

The bill will advance to the fourteenth order for amendment work and further committee consideration.","Senate Bill 1007, a cleanup measure removing a sentence that limited public comment to agenda items, was sent to the fourteenth order for possible amendment after proponents said the change would restore community voice and opponents warned it could create open-meeting and quasi-judicial problems.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate Education panel advances bill easing spousal-employment limits for smallest school districts

Committee sends public-comment cleanup bill to amending order after split testimony