Blake Jones

Caldwell School District lifts mask mandate

The Caldwell board’s decision leaves West Ada and the Boise School District as the only Treasure Valley districts with mask mandates in place, per EdNews tracking.

Election could swing balance of power on high-profile Treasure Valley school boards

Conservatives swept races for the West Ada and Nampa school boards, triggering likely shifts in policy and power.

West Ada election gets political

Party involvement lies shallow beneath the surface in the race to help lead Idaho’s biggest school district.

Republican lawmakers call for ISBA to shed national affiliation

Idaho’s lobbying group for trustees says it has distanced itself from the National School Boards Association, but will not end the relationship — at least for now.

Race, masks and equity contour Nampa School Board election

As three candidates run campaigns on their opposition to critical race theory and pandemic protocols, their opponents are preaching equity and decrying district achievement gaps.

Ybarra sharply rebukes ‘political posturing’ around social-emotional learning

The state superintendent’s office has continued to advocate for the concept behind SEL, but has distanced itself from the term as it accumulates political charge.

West Ada plans to reverse learning loss with federal cash

School leaders are in the process of hiring instructional coaches, seeking on-demand tutoring for students and buying laptops with the money provided by the American Rescue Plan.

West Ada to stop contact tracing, keep mask mandate

The district will instead notify parents if their student was in a classroom with someone who tested positive. Parents will be advised to monitor for symptoms but keep their kids in class.

Attorney General: West Ada chair likely doesn’t have conflict of interest under state law

Parents urging for Amy Johnson’s ouster have said her employment in health care creates a conflict of interest as she affects public health decisions for schools.