James Woodward — Invited to add comments to the presentation.
James Woodward — Identified himself for the record as Representative Raymond, Legislative District 31, and added comments supporting the bill.
James Woodward — Was invited to add comments and did so.
James Woodward — Directed Senator Nichols to the recipient list in the Idaho Department of Education packet.
James Woodward — Thanked for his presentation and invited to remain.
James Woodward — Representative Church responded to committee questions about the bill’s amendment language and how it would affect mentor and administrative classifications. He explained that only individuals with no direct instructional duties would be moved into supervisory or administrative roles, while mentors with instructional responsibilities would not be reclassified. He noted that the relevant administrative language was added in 2015, was not being changed in the original or amended bill, and that he could not speak for the Department of Education on how the definition is applied. He also clarified that the current language already exists in code, that the bill adds other administrative positions, and then read the proposed amendment, which would strike lines 32 through 34, replace subsection C with B, and add a new definition on page three.
James Woodward — Senator Woodward asked about how the bill’s administrative-duties language would apply in very small schools, what financial implications it might have, and what would happen if districts did not recategorize staff. The discussion focused on whether the proposed changes would affect staffing classifications and funding thresholds, with later speakers referring back to his question as they responded.
James Woodward — Senator Woodward is acknowledged and then asks for clarification on the exact bill sections, page, and line numbers being discussed, continuing a line-specific inquiry about the challenged provisions.
James Woodward — Senator James Woodward was recorded during the roll call on the motion, first voting nay and later voting aye on the motion.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Nichols asked a brief question about the funding round, specifically how many districts participated and how many were involved. The discussion then continued with a related question about whether the proposal is intended to direct money to those who actually need it.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Tammy Nichols questions Representative Church about the rationale and expected impact of the proposed changes, including how they relate to the career ladder. She then follows up by asking who participated in developing the proposal and what groups or stakeholders were involved in bringing it to the table.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Nichols is addressed as the speaker prepares to ask a question and make a motion.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Tammy Nichols is referenced as helping explain the amendment process, is thanked for that assistance, is called on to speak, makes the motion to send House Bill 728 to the amending order, and later votes aye on the motion.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Ward-Engelking asked whether the committee was ready for a motion and then moved to send House Bill 599 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Ward-Engelking asked for clarification on whether Representative Church intended to send the bill to the amending order, and the discussion continued immediately with Representative Church’s response.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Janie Ward-Engelking sought clarification on the bill’s language, first asking whether it related to an emergency clause or charter school flexibility, and then asking whether teachers who take mentor or coach assignments for a period of time would lose their career ladder position during that assignment.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Ward-Engelking thanks the speaker for the explanation and asks whether administrators and teachers are generally supportive of the funding formula rewrite. The response begins to address her question by noting that the speaker cannot speak for all teachers but indicates support from educators they know.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Ward-Engelking is referenced first in a brief acknowledgment after an explanation of the classroom coaching concept, and then again in a follow-up point arguing that coaches and mentor teachers already work in classrooms, suggesting the discussion may be describing an existing practice rather than something new.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Her vote was called, but the transcript is unclear and does not clearly capture the response.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Her vote was called as part of the roll call.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Said she wants to review Representative Church's amendments and hear from stakeholders to ensure problematic issues are addressed.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Her vote was called, but the transcript does not clearly capture the response.
Christy Zito — Welcomed to present on the next agenda item.
Christy Zito — Representative Church thanks the chair and Senator Nichols, then explains that the bill grew out of prior work in House Education and a discussion after a hearing about directing education funding appropriately. He emphasizes that school funding is complicated and cannot be fixed simply by stating where money should go, noting that education has its own terminology and that educators share responsibility for making the system clearer. The discussion then turns to identifying solutions that would improve transparency and help lawmakers and taxpayers better understand who is in schools and why.
Christy Zito — Voted nay on the motion to hold the bill.
Christy Zito — Her vote was called, but the transcript does not clearly capture the response.
Cindy Carlson — Named as one of the representatives associated with the next bill.
Cindy Carlson — During the roll call on the motion to hold the bill, Senator Cindy Carlson was recorded as voting nay; a later call of her name appears to be part of the same vote tally, though the transcript is unclear on the exact spoken response.
Kevin Cook — Senator Kevin Cook thanks Representative Church for his work and asks for clarification about the administrative staff definition, specifically what happens if someone becomes an administrator under the definition but does not hold a certificate. He then expresses concern that the revised language may change the meaning of the statute and could classify someone as an administrator without the required certificate. Representative Church responds by addressing Senator Cook’s concerns, pointing to the original language and suggesting that the committee review the replacement language to resolve the issue.
Kevin Cook — Kevin Cook is referenced as the senator who previously asked about whether subsection C already appears in code, and then acknowledged as the speaker’s co-sponsor to the left who had raised the earlier question.
Kevin Cook — Senator Cook raises questions about where coaches and mentors fit within the bill’s definitions, especially whether they are being grouped with administrators despite different qualifications and duties. The discussion continues as others respond to his concern and reference him while clarifying the definition and pay-scale language, including a later mention tied to mentors and instructional coaches.
Kevin Cook — Senator Cook proposes an alternative motion and says he wants a full committee debate before changes are made.
Kevin Cook — Senator Cook moves to hold the bill at the call of the chair.
Kevin Cook — Voted aye on the motion to hold the bill.
Kevin Cook — Voted aye in the roll call to send the bill to the 14th.
Carrie Semmelroth — Asked where the current definition appears in code.
Carrie Semmelroth — During the roll call, Senator Carrie Semmelroth was called and responded 'Aye,' recording her vote on the motion.
Dave Lent — Mr. Chairman is being addressed.
Dave Lent — Chairman is addressed.
Dave Lent — Mr. Chairman is addressed in the follow-up exchange.
Dave Lent — Mr. Chairman is addressed.
Dave Lent — Mr. Chairman is addressed.
Dave Lent — Mentioned as 'Senator Lent' in the response to concerns about the definition and pay scale language.
Dave Lent — Was addressed in the exchange as the chair presiding over the discussion.
Dave Lent — Explained that if districts did not recategorize, the 108 people would be moved into administration and districts would have to determine whether they fell over the .79 threshold.
Dave Lent — Was asked to confirm whether the change would create excess administrative costs.
Dave Lent — Was thanked and addressed during the follow-up exchange.
Dave Lent — Was thanked for the explanation and then referenced again in the follow-up.
Dave Lent — Was addressed by the speaker at the start of the response.
Dave Lent — Explained that the legislation is intended to clarify the school funding mechanism and help people understand the system.