National and state education union leaders traveled to North Idaho this week to discuss the persistent funding gaps facing rural districts, according to reporting from bonnercountydailybee.com.
Princess Moss, president of the National Education Association (NEA), and Peggy Hoy, president of the Idaho Education Association, met with educators in Coeur d’Alene on Friday. The NEA represents roughly 3 million public school teachers and staff nationwide. Moss’s three-year term as national president began September 1.
Moss stated the purpose of the visit was to listen directly to rural educators so she could better advocate for resources at the federal level. “I want rural schools to know they are important to the National Education Association,” Moss told the Bonner County Daily Bee.
Hoy, who spent more than 30 years working for the Twin Falls School District before launching the NEA’s Rural Schools Caucus, noted that rural educators are frequently left out of national policy discussions. The meeting included teachers from Kellogg and other North Idaho communities.
Funding Formulas and Recruitment
Educators at the gathering highlighted several structural challenges. Teachers pointed to state funding formulas that they argue tie education quality to zip codes, creating disparities between wealthier and poorer districts. They also discussed the difficulty of passing supplemental levies to cover basic operational costs, citing chronic underfunding as a primary obstacle.
Recruitment remains another significant hurdle. North Idaho educators noted that higher teacher salaries in neighboring Washington state draw talent away from Idaho classrooms, exacerbating staffing shortages in rural areas.
Union Politics and Legislation
The meeting also touched on recent legislative changes affecting union operations in Idaho. Governor Brad Little signed HB 516 into law earlier this year. The measure prohibits schools from deducting union dues from teacher paychecks and eliminates paid time off for union activities.
Despite the political climate, local educators emphasized that their concerns about funding are not partisan. Connie Wilkerson, president of the Lakeland Education Association and a fifth-grade teacher at Spirit Lake Elementary, told the Bonner County Daily Bee the issues facing rural schools transcend party lines. “It is not based on political or party lines,” Wilkerson said.
Jake Smulkowski, president of the Post Falls Education Association and a fifth-grade teacher at Ponderosa Elementary, also participated in the discussions. Moss has stated her goal for the NEA is to move the organization from a stance of resistance to one of renaissance, focusing on practical support for educators.
For context on other local education funding issues, see Riverside School Board Moves Operations Levy Vote to November Ballot. Additionally, federal policy shifts continue to impact school nutrition programs, as detailed in Federal SNAP Changes Trigger School Meal Disruptions Across U.S..