[Vision2020] Blue Ribbon Committee Ed Recommendations

[Tom Trail]

Visionaries:    Listed below are some of the preliminary recommendations of
the Governor's Blue
Ribbon Committee.  This information was shared by Paul Agidius.   It will
be interesting to see
how much of it shows up in the Governor's State of the State and Budget
address next week.

January 6th is the opening day of the Legislature.   I plan on sending out
a weekly Legislative
report along with periodic items of interest.   I encourage constitutents
to contact me with their
ideas, concerns and recommendation.   My desk phone is (208) 332-1202, e
mail, ttrail@house.
state.id.us

Rep.Tom Trail/Dist. 6

Key Committee-Education-Recommendation 1

The Education Committee recommends by way of a resolution that the 2020
Blue Ribbon Task
Force endorse the public statements of Governor Kempthore that K-12 public
schools and Idaho's
colleges and universities be exempt from further cuts in any attempt to
balance the FY 2003 and/or
FY 2004 State General Fund budgets.

Recommendation 2

The Educaton Committee recommends, by way of a resolution that should
revenues be projected
for FY 2004 beyond that necessary to balance the State's General Fund
budget, such funds be earmarked for K-12 public schools and Idaho's
colleges and universities as follows:

 1) K-12 public schools:  funding of the maintenance of current operations
(MCO) budget with
     the appropriation inflation factor, continued support for the
implementation of statewide
     standards and the reading initiative and restoration of funding for
the technology initiative; and

 2) Colleges and universities:  funding of the maintenance of current
operatons (MC)) budget with
     the appropriate inflation factor, restoration of funds to the
Permanent Building Fund and
     authorization to proceed to construction of previously approved
captial projects, and implementation of the State Board of Education
initiative Funding Equity Among Four Year
     institutions.



Education Recommendation #3

That pursuant to its commitment to evaluate redundant and ineffective
services and outline
opportunities to improve efficiencies and productivity in public education,
the Education
Committee will analyze and recommend ways to design structures and systems
to enhance
governance  and administrative efficiencies in higher education.  This may
result in a request to the Governor for funds to contract for professional
services for the period from March 1, 2003 through August 31, 2003.

Education Recommendation #4

That pursuant to its commitment to "evaluate redundant and ineffective
services and outline
opportunities to improve efficiencies and productivity in public educaton,
the Education Committee will analyze and recommend ways to design
administrative structures and to identify efficiencies
for K-12 public education in Idaho.  This may result in a request to the
Governor for funds to contract
for professional services for the period from March 1, 2003 through August
31, 2003.

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In general, the general tenor the the Sub Committee's recommendation is
very supportative of
K-12 and Higher Education; however, certain aspects of the rationale and
details of the
recommendations need to be fleshed out.

Rep. Tom Trail/Dist 6

Dr. Tom Trail
International Trails
1375 Mt. View Rd.
Moscow, Id. 83843
Tel:  (208) 882-6077
Fax:  (208) 882-0896
e mail ttrail@moscow.com