Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom
Luna submitted a budget proposal Tuesday requesting a 6.9 percent increase in
state funding for Idaho public schools for the 2015–16 school year.
“We’re meeting our priorities and
fulfilling our promises with this budget,” said Superintendent Luna. “This
budget proposal follows priorities set forth by Governor Otter’s Taskforce for
Improving Education. We know the most important factor in a child’s
education is the quality of the teacher. This budget focuses on improving
teacher pay and providing better support for teachers through targeted
professional development and access to 21st century learning tools.”
State agencies are required to submit
budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year to the Governor’s office by
September 1. Because of the Labor Day holiday, agencies were allowed to submit
a day later.
The public schools general fund request
equals $1,460,700,900, a 6.9 percent increase over fiscal year 2015. Without
automatic increases for growth in student population and educators, the budget
is a 5.8 percent increase.
The largest increases in the budget are
focused on recommendations from the Governor’s Taskforce for Improving
Education to fund a career ladder for teachers, which changes the way teachers
are compensated as well as increases in professional development dollars sent
to districts and transitioning from a one to one device pilot program to a
formula sent directly to all school districts.
Highlights in Superintendent Luna’s budget
proposal for the 2015 school year include:
·
More
than $23 million for the career ladder
·
An
increase in discretionary funding of $10 million
·
$9
million additional for 21st century classroom technology to
create one to one mobile device environments
·
$21.6
million for professional development funding for teachers
·
More
than $10 million to restore funds for maintenance and safe and drug free
schools
This budget request will now go to the
Governor’s office for consideration. According to state statute, the Governor
presents a budget recommendation for all of state government to members of the
Idaho Legislature in January. Fiscal year 2016 begins July 1, 2015.