Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. He can be reached at krichert@idahoednews.org

Governor signs strategic planning bill

An annual school strategic plan represents one of 20 recommendations from Gov. Butch Otter’s education task force.

Kuna contemplates another levy

Trustees will meet Wednesday to weigh their options. Supporters have launched an online petition drive urging the district to run another $3.19 million-a-year levy, but opponents have one trustee in their camp.

Lawmaker: K-12 budget a ‘dismal failure’

The proposed K-12 budget still lags behind the original 2008-09 budget by $43 million. And the budget fails to keep up with enrollment increases, rising health insurance costs and other variables, says state Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise.

FINAL elections filings (3.14.14, 6:36 p.m.)

For Idaho political junkies, March Madness is done and the candidate brackets are filled. Take a look at who’s running for what.

Lanza joins Balukoff campaign

Mike Lanza co-founded a group that pushed for the defeat of Propositions 1, 2 and 3. He will serve as gubernatorial candidate A.J. Balukoff’s spokesman and education adviser.

Breaking down the broadband budget deal

Idaho’s high school broadband system could remain online through February. But from there, things get cloudy.

Parental rights, evaluation bills likely dead

The parental rights bill and the teacher evaluation bills both passed the House last week, but they’re unlikely to get a hearing in the Senate.

IEA: Many districts near ‘tipping point’

Patrons in 35 school districts approved school tax levies Tuesday, but many of these communities are “stretched extremely thin financially,” Idaho Education Association President Penni Cyr said Wednesday.