ISBA celebrates 75 years

The Idaho School Boards Association (ISBA) celebrated its 75th anniversary on Friday. Lt. Gov. Brad Little signed a proclamation in ISBA’s honor in the Governor’s Ceremonial Office of the Statehouse.

ISBA was established in 1942 as a non-profit service organization to support the work of locally elected school board members in Idaho. ISBA currently represents over 800 school board members across in public districts and charter schools. ISBA provides services to school board members, including policy assistance, legislative advocacy, leadership support and board training.

Eagle brothers to be featured at Boise Film Festival

Brothers Kayden and Kobe Humphries, 11 and 9 years old share a passion — acting.  Both have been featured in Nickelodeon shows, short films and a NBA commercial.

“When I’m acting it makes me feel good because I know people are paying attention,” Kayden said. “It looks easy on TV, but acting is a lot of hard work.”

Kayden and Kobe are now sharing their experience with other kids. On Saturday, the brothers will sit on a “Youth in Film”panel at the Boise Film Festival to discuss what it’s like to work in the entertainment business as actors.

“A big part of our festival is showcasing student work,” said Melinda Quick, the executive director of the Boise Film Festival.

The two will join Chad Miller, the founder and manager at Cinema Machine Management and Bonnie Bruckheimer, a producer and advocate for women in film. The Boise Film Festival is Sept. 21 – 24 and you can hear Kayden and Kobe speak at noon on Saturday.

Educators and kids are free to attend with a school ID card. For more information click here.

Back-to-school bonus for Idaho 529 college savings accounts 

Idaho 529 College Savings Program (IDeal) is offering a $25 match for the first 160 people who open a new IDeal account and set up automatic monthly contributions by October 15. 

Anyone can open an IDeal account for $25.  Money saved with the program can be used to pay for qualified education expenses like tuition, fees, books, and computers and may be used at any accredited post-secondary institution in the United States.

A report released last month by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shows that five years after graduation 30 percent of student borrowers have not begun paying down their student loan balances.

Boise kids raise money for Hurricane Harvey victims

Rolling Hills Public Charter School students raised $802.85 for families affected by Hurricane Harvey. Students held a week-long coin drive to raise money for the Houston Food Bank.

“We are proud of the generous spirit of our school community, and its desire to help other students and families in crisis,” said Marie Talcott, a teacher at Rolling Hills Public Charter School.

New Plymouth staff recognized for ‘creative and innovative’ ideas

New Plymouth High counselor Jordan Chesler and principal Clete Edmunson have been invited by the Idaho State Department of Advanced Opportunities to represent Idaho at the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships Conference in Washington, D.C. this Oct. 8-10.

Tina Polishchuk, coordinator for advanced opportunities with the State Department of Education sought out New Plymouth because she believed they were developing some “creative and innovate ideas” in their dual credit program.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to show the rest of the nation how amazing our students and staff are and how supportive our parents and community members have been in building this dual credit program,” said Edmunson.

New Plymouth was the only Idaho high school chosen to present at this conference.

“It’s a tribute to 12 years of hard work,” Edmunson said.

Matt McCarter of the SDE said: “New Plymouth is one of a growing number of school districts in Idaho that have embraced dual credit and advanced opportunities as a key component of building a ‘go on’ culture. New Plymouth has developed meaningful community partnerships and has imbedded student supports, intentional advising and course pathways for students wanting to get a jump start on college. This district is a great example of what is going right in Idaho education.”

Over 95 percent of the full-time staff certified at New Plymouth teach dual credit classes and students have the opportunity to take up to 23 different dual credit classes equaling 75 college credits. In the last two years, over 75 percent of dual credit eligible students have earned over 1,000 credits per year, averaging 16 credits per student. Several students have graduated with over 50 college credits and last year two seniors graduated with their associates degree from the College of Western Idaho the same week they earned their high school diplomas from New Plymouth.

New Plymouth’s most recent college go-on rate is 51 percent and over the state average of 48 percent.

2017 Idaho governor’s cup honors former governor Cecil Andrus 

In honor of the founder of the Idaho Governor’s Cup Scholarship Program, a new scholarship has been established in the name of former Governor Cecil Andrus to celebrate his passion and support for education and Idaho students.

At the annual Idaho Governor’s Cup event September 7-9 in Sun Valley, Gov. Butch Otter, First Lady Lori Otter and the Governor’s Cup board of directors announced the Cecil Andrus Excellence in Education Scholarship. It will be awarded starting in 2018 to an Idaho high school senior planning to attend an Idaho college or university to pursue an education career.

“It is fitting that a scholarship in his name benefit those who choose a career in teaching, for he always believed it is through education that we prepare our next generation of leaders,” said Tracy Andrus, daughter of Cecil Andrus and president of the Andrus Center for Public Policy.

Nearly 250 students have received Governor’s Cup scholarships which provide $3,000 a year for up to four years for academic recipients and $3,000 a year for up to three years for students who attend career technical education programs in Idaho.

In total, the 2017 Idaho Governor’s Cup event brought in $1.2 million dollars, exceeding all previous fundraising records.

Andrus, 85, died Aug. 24, from complications stemming from lung cancer.

Nominations open for Presidential Scholars

Idaho high school seniors interested in being nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program can submit applications to the State Department of Education by Oct. 25, 2017.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

For more information on how to apply, click here.