About 50 people braved one of the coldest days of the year to stand on the Statehouse steps and support an education “Day of Action” sponsored by the Idaho Education Association.
Five people spoke in support making a bigger investment in education. The crowd reacted with muffled claps from gloved hands.
“We need to ask our officials to reinvest and recommit to public education,” said Penni Cyr, president of the IEA. “The Legislature needs to step up and adequately fund our public schools.”
Cyr also called on other groups to do their part:
- Teachers should continue to learn and grow.
- Parents should be engaged.
- Students should be motivated.
- Communities should be supportive.
- Schools should be held accountable.
Cyr talked about her work on the governor’s task force for education and asked Idahoans to support the 20 recommendations made by the 31-member group.
Rep. Hy Kloc begged the crowd to support four bill introduced last week by Democrats that were built off the task force recommendations. He also asked Idahoans to support his proposal to increase funding and support for pre-kindergarten programs.
“We are all in this together,” said Kloc, D-Boise.
Also speaking at the 30-minute rally were Stephanie Myers, president of the Boise Education Association, Mike Lanza, co-founder of Idaho Parents and Teachers Together, and Aaron White, a businessman from Meridian.
White said he worries about opportunities for his two boys, who are enrolled in the Meridian School District.
“I’m concerned that kids are not receiving the best education possible,” White said. “We need to tell those who represent us that enough is enough.”
Said Lanza, a key figure in the November 2012 repeal of Propositions 1, 2 and 3: “Our work on behalf of Idaho schools and children is not done.”
