Today, Republicans in the Idaho State Senate approved the State Board of Education budget for the coming year. House Bill 876 cuts tens of millions of dollars from Idaho’s universities and community colleges. In response, Democratic Caucus Chair Janie Ward-Engelking released the following statement:
“Senate Republicans just made it harder for the next generation to stay, succeed, and build their future in Idaho. This vote deals a major blow to higher education at the very moment more students are counting on these schools and our economy needs their talent.
“Across the state, universities and community colleges are freezing hiring, furloughing staff, and leaving key positions unfilled. That means fewer instructors, less support, and fewer opportunities for students to succeed.
“More than $25 million in permanent cuts are already hitting campuses hard. At Idaho State University, more than 40 employees have already lost their jobs. The College of Education has been eliminated, and nursing students face long waitlists. At Boise State, the College of Innovation and Design is being eliminated. At the University of Idaho, engineering students are stuck on waitlists even as employers like Micron need more skilled graduates.
“As a former teacher and a grandmother, I know what is at stake for the next generation. Idaho families want their children to succeed close to home, find good jobs here, and stay here. This vote makes that harder. We owe it to them to do better.”
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