Idaho House OKs final teacher salary bill

BOISE, Idaho -- After approving a revised $1.3 billion public schools budget that held up the Legislature's adjournment, the Idaho House took another hour to debate legislation giving districts power to cut teacher salaries and contracts.

The House voted 47-21 to pass it after lengthy debate on giving school districts more power to reduce teacher salaries and shorten their contracts from year to year.

Midvale Republican Rep. Judy Boyle said the proposal is intended to help districts manage their spending.

She said giving districts more leeway will prevent small rural schools with razor-thin budgets from shuttering their doors.

After all, Boyle said, teachers have good jobs, compared to people with no jobs.

But Democrats argued it allows schools without financial hardship to make cuts, and could dissuade talented teachers from settling in Idaho.