State Board of Education asks for new positions, IT funding and $15 million one‑time workforce grant proposal

The Office of the State Board of Education asked the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Thursday to approve FY2026 funding that would strengthen centralized IT, data and school-safety capacity while funding a one‑time public–private workforce capacity grant proposed by the governor.

The request — presented by Kevin Campbell, Budget and Policy Analyst with the Legislative Services Office, and answered in detail by Joshua (Josh) Whitworth, executive director of the State Board — would add personnel and programming across the Office of the State Board (OSB). The largest single new item is the governor’s proposed one‑time $15 million public–private workforce capacity grant, which would provide state dollars to build workforce training infrastructure at institutions that raise private matching funds.

The governor’s proposal would award funds at a 1:1 match for Boise State University, Idaho State University and the University of Idaho, and at a 1:2 match for Lewis‑Clark State College and the four community colleges. Whitworth said the intent is to direct money to “in‑demand” programs identified by technical advisory and business advisory committees and the state Workforce Development Council, highlighting fields such as mining, forestry, welding/fabrication and nuclear engineering as examples of high demand.

Why it matters: committee members pressed for more detail about eligible programs, expected outcomes and whether the proposal needs separate legislation. Whitworth said the match requirement and use of technical advisory lists would drive eligibility and that he would provide a more detailed list to the committee before floor action. Representative Horman confirmed with Whitworth that the behavioral threat assessment proposal (a separate OSB request) is the only item in OSB’s packet that the director said currently requires enabling legislation.

Key budget context and drivers: Campbell summarized OSB’s organizational changes and funding history. OSB’s three main divisions are OSB administration (the largest), IT and data management, and the school safety and security program (transferred into OSB in FY2022). Campbell reported OSB currently has 84.25 authorized full‑time positions (FTPs) with eight vacancies and a five‑year average authorized FTP count of 55.95 — a figure he said is skewed low because recent transfers increased staff totals. He also noted a $30 million ongoing Empowering Parents grant enacted by the 2024 Legislature is reflected in the FY2024 budget.

On IT and staffing: legislators repeatedly questioned whether recent increases in centralized personnel and IT staff represented appropriate consolidation. Whitworth explained several transfers — including IT and data management from the State Department of Education, internal audit staff, and centralized risk management — were made to reduce “siloed” activity and to provide consistent policies and services across institutions and K–12 districts. He said the OSB IT team supports roughly 300,000 students and that contractors currently perform many IT functions; the requested IT positions (database engineer, systems/infrastructure engineer) are intended to reduce long‑term contracting costs and clear backlogs of maintenance and security tasks.

On Independent Study Idaho and fees: Whitworth described Independent Study Idaho as a flexible, largely self‑funded program that serves nontraditional students (for example, single parents) and allows students to take courses at their own pace from multiple institutions. He said the program charges roughly $160 per credit and that program revenues and outcomes do not fully cover rising costs, which prompted a requested base‑funding adjustment. Lawmakers asked for more data about enrollment, outcomes and whether the program remains a cost‑effective use of general fund dollars.

On DEI and student fees: multiple legislators noted that many services focused on historically marginalized groups are funded by student fees rather than by state appropriations. Whitworth and others confirmed that, per reporting to a working group, those centers and services are primarily supported through student fees and opt‑in mechanisms. Senator Wintrow and Representative Tanner pressed for clearer accounting of which services are fee‑funded and which, if any, receive appropriated funds.

What’s next: OSB and Legislative Services committed to providing detailed program lists, the IT plan and clearer performance metrics for Independent Study Idaho and the workforce grant eligibility prior to the committee’s budget decisions.

Ending: Committee members said they expect follow‑up materials and a refined eligibility list for the workforce grant and additional IT and program performance information before final budget votes.