Charter commission nominee from Jerome addresses Senate Education Committee; vote deferred

At a meeting of the Idaho Senate Education Committee, the panel heard testimony from Lisa Apollos of Jerome, nominated to the Idaho Public Charter School Commission, and said it would take her recommendation under consideration and defer a confirmation vote to the committee’s next meeting.

Apollos introduced herself at the committee hearing and described her background in management and long-term service to youth organizations. She said she graduated from Post Falls High School and Idaho State University with a degree in political science, worked in broadcast sales and management in Pocatello and Twin Falls, and has served on the board of the Magic Valley Boys & Girls Club for about 17 years, including roughly 15 years on its executive board. She told the committee she has attended one commission meeting so far and said she is “very excited about this” and “very nervous.” She said, “My biggest asset is honestly in management and in business. I’m a good decision maker and I’m a good manager.”

Committee members asked about priorities she would pursue if confirmed and about relations between charter and traditional public schools. Senator Cook asked what her “biggest asset” would be; Apollos replied she brings management and business experience. Senator Cook and Senator Carlson asked whether she would prioritize improving communication between charter schools and traditional districts; Apollos said she believes “communication always seems to help things and and make things better.” Senator Nichols asked what goals she would set while serving; Apollos said recent legislation has “gone a very, very long ways to making everything for charter schools much easier” and said her initial goal would be to “stay that course” and look for improvements as she becomes more familiar with commission work.

The transcript contains inconsistent renderings of the nominee’s surname: the committee’s agenda item lists the nominee as Lisa Apollos, while the nominee introduced herself on the record as “Lisa Paulus.” The committee’s public remarks and questions in the transcript attribute the answers to the nominee’s remarks as recorded.

Committee leadership told the nominee the committee would discuss her recommendation further and likely hold a confirmation vote at the next meeting. The committee did not take a formal vote on this nomination at the session recorded in the transcript.

The hearing record shows the nominee’s term as stated in the committee item: a term commencing Oct. 10, 2024, and expiring May 12, 2028. The committee did not specify additional conditions or qualifications on the record.

The committee adjourned the nominee’s confirmation to a future meeting for a formal vote and thanked her for attending.