Dave Lent — Addressed as Chairman Lent at the start of testimony.
Dave Lent — Addressed as Chairman Lent at the start of testimony.
Dave Lent — Addressed as Chairman Lent at the start of testimony.
Dave Lent — Chairman Lent is referenced in the introduction to the next witness.
Dave Lent — Addressed as Chairman Lent in the witness introduction.
Dave Lent — Addressed as Chairman Lent.
Dave Lent — Addressed as Chairman Lent.
Dave Lent — Chairman Lent is addressed at the start of testimony, then presides over the committee action by receiving a request for support, announcing that the motion carries, and finally adjourning the meeting for the day.
James Woodward — Not mentioned directly in the text, but the speaker refers to the career ladder and pay placement issue in the context of the bill discussion.
James Woodward — The question concerns whether years as an administrator count toward the lifetime certificate after 25 years of service.
James Woodward — The chair transitions to the next agenda item, saying Senator Woodward will present House Bill 762.
James Woodward — Introduces House Bill 762 and explains that it addresses charter school admissions.
James Woodward — Summarizes House Bill 762 and the chair begins calling witnesses.
James Woodward — Senator Woodward is invited to close and then begins remarks about Bryn adapting to new environments.
Mr. Jacobson — Mr. Jacobson is referenced as a testifier from Swan Valley in Senator Harris's district and then cited as a positive example of what the superintendent can accomplish, with his Swan Valley school highlighted favorably.
Christy Zito — Asks for clarification on how the career ladder works when a teacher moves into administration.
Christy Zito — Seeks confirmation that administrative experience increases placement if a teacher returns to the classroom.
Christy Zito — Continues the line of questioning about how the career ladder interacts with superintendent pay.
Christy Zito — Her district, Mountain Home, is cited as an example of a district serving military families.
Mr. Grover — Referenced as having explained that evaluations matter.
Tammy Perrault — Tammy Perrault is introduced as the first witness and then testifies in support of House Bill 762 on behalf of the Department of War. She highlights the more than 7,000 K-12 military students in Idaho and emphasizes how the bill relates to military families, school choice, and reducing enrollment disadvantages for military-connected students.
Danette Merrill — Danette Merrill, Executive Director of the Idaho Charter School Association, testified in support of House Bill 762. She explained that military families face unique challenges with charter school enrollment timing and that the bill addresses a practical problem for active-duty families. She emphasized that the proposal does not create new charter schools, change accountability, or disadvantage traditional public schools, and closed by framing the bill as a matter of fairness and practical support for military service members and their families.
Christopher Canouse — Christopher Canouse, an active-duty Air Force airman and third-generation veteran, testified that while he is proud of his service, his family and their future are his greatest priority. He explained that military families should not have to worry about school access for their children during required moves, emphasized that the bill simply recognizes that military relocations are not elective and does not provide special treatment, and concluded by asking the committee to support the bill.
Ashley Cotton — Ashley Cotton testified as an active-duty Air Force spouse and charter school graduate about how military service disrupted her family’s stability and school access. She described repeated deployment extensions, a rushed move to Idaho with less than two months to relocate, difficulties finding the right school for her stepdaughter, and the need to move again so her daughter could attend a strong public school. She concluded that the core issue is access, not school quality, and urged support for military families seeking educational opportunity.
Steve Lambert — Steve Lambert was introduced as the next virtual witness and then testified as a retired Air Force veteran and Idaho resident. He explained that, based on his own experience moving 19 times during his military career, military families face frequent school transitions that can be difficult for children. He supported the bill because it would not create a new charter school, but would instead improve access for military-connected students to existing schools when waitlists are an issue.
Mr. Lambert — Mr. Lambert testified in support of the bill, saying it would help military families and military readiness, and asked the committee to vote yes. He then concluded his remarks by offering to answer questions, after which the committee thanked him and moved to the next witnesses.
Emily Downey — Emily Downey, executive director of SAGE International Charter Schools and a military spouse and daughter of a career Army officer, testified about how frequent military moves affected her family’s educational experience. She described how her sister faced learning gaps and tutoring costs because of relocations, while her parents made sacrifices to place her in a rigorous private school. She concluded by asking Idaho to allow a modest annual preference in charter school lotteries for military families and thanked the committee for the opportunity to speak.
Christopher Collins — Christopher Collins is announced as an upcoming witness, mentioned alongside Emily Downey and Amanda Finster, and then referenced again as the next witness before Amanda Finster.
Amanda Finster — Amanda Finster is repeatedly introduced as the next witness and then begins her testimony. She identifies herself as an active-duty senior master in the U.S. Air Force and a mother and wife raising two children. She explains that military life involves frequent moves, deployments, and training rotations, which disrupt family stability and her children's education, underscoring the importance of stable schooling for military families.
Chris Collins — Chris Collins testified as a 21-year Army veteran and military parent, describing how his family moved eight times during his career and how frequent PCS moves can disrupt children’s schooling. He argued that a child’s education should not depend on luck and presented House Bill 762 as a solution, explaining that it would allow limited enrollment preferences while preserving the charter school lottery.
Joanne — Identified as Chris Collins's wife.
Coco Collins — Coco Collins is introduced as the speaker’s daughter and a student at Gem Prep Charter School who is thriving. The committee then asks about her history of moving schools, and Coco confirms that she moved frequently and lived in multiple places. She explains that her charter school schedule offers flexibility, which she likes, and notes that the charter school structure provides helpful breaks and scheduling options that fit her situation.
Carrie Semmelroth — Addressed as 'Senator Semmelroth' and asked a question of Coco/Ms. Collins.
Mr. Collins — Members thanked Mr. Collins for his service and testimony, and one speaker briefly asked a question for Coco in the course of addressing him. The exchange is a continuous, polite discussion centered on appreciation for his testimony rather than separate substantive topics.
Mr. Collins — Senator Woodward references Mr. Collins having made a good point.
Ms. Collins — Asked what she likes about her school in Boise and responded that her charter school offers flexibility.
Coco — Praised by committee members for thriving in her school.
Jamie Searcy — Jamie Searcy is introduced as the next witness and then testifies that she is a mother of three and a military spouse of over 17 years stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base. She appears with her daughter to offer support for House Bill 762.
Bryn Searcy — A sixth-grade military child begins testimony about fairness and priority status at charter schools.
Kevin Cook — Senator Cook asks Bryn whether she plans to be a politician someday and praises her speech.
Kevin Cook — Called on for committee discussion or comments and then for a motion.
Kevin Cook — Made the motion to send House Bill 762 to the floor.
Kevin Cook — Thanked after the motion carried and asked if he would carry the bill.
Bryn — Bryn responds that she does plan to be a politician down the road.
Bryn — Senator Woodward says Bryn is adept at adapting to new environments.
Anna Garvin — The chair introduces Anna Garvin as one of the remaining witnesses, and Anna Garvin then begins her testimony by introducing herself as a mother, veteran, and active-duty military spouse living on Mountain Home Air Force Base.
Lake Yowd — The chair says Lake Yowd is one of the last two witnesses.
Mr. Yaud? — The transcript appears to contain a misheard name when the speaker offers to stand for questions; the exact name is uncertain.
Brent — The speaker says she might even give questions to Brent, likely referring to Bryn from the prior testimony.