Clint Hostetler — Representative Hostetler asked whether the bill would provide stability for service members while still preserving charter school discretion, and the response confirmed that the bill would allow local priority and maintain that discretion.
Clint Hostetler — Representative Clint Hostetler thanked Mr. Gilbert and then questioned whether a new charter school specifically for military families had actually been announced, asking how the witness knew that and whether the school was intended specifically and exclusively for military families.
Clint Hostetler — Representative Clint Hostetler first moved to hold House Bill 657 in committee, then moved to send RS-33489 to the second reading calendar with a due pass recommendation. After a brief clarification of the motion language, he restated the motion to introduce RS-33489 and send it to the second reading calendar with a due pass recommendation.
Tammy Peralt — Identified as the first testifier from Boise, District 19.
Tammy Perrault — Testified on behalf of the Department of War about enrollment challenges for military-connected children in Idaho.
Dale Hawkins — Chair Hawkins is addressed multiple times during the hearing as the committee chair, including opening greetings, a transition to the next testifier, and a closing thank-you for his service to the country.
Dale Hawkins — Mentioned indirectly through the prior chair reference in the surrounding context; not spoken in this excerpt.
Dale Hawkins — During a brief committee exchange, the witness and Representative Nelson address Chair Dale Hawkins, with Nelson thanking the Chair. The discussion is then interrupted when the witness notes they have been disconnected before questions could continue, and the chair is again referred to as Chairman Hawkins.
Dale Hawkins — Mr. Gilbert addresses Chairman Dale Hawkins and Representative, apologizing and saying he does not have the answer to the question.
Dale Hawkins — Chair Dale Hawkins closed off testimony, thanked the witness, and then recognized Representative Levitt to proceed.
Dale Hawkins — Representative Dale Hawkins introduced House Bill 711 and explained it as an alternate authorization/apprenticeship program for principals and superintendents.
Dale Hawkins — Thanked for collaboration on the bill.
Dale Hawkins — Chairman Dale Hawkins is repeatedly referenced as the meeting moves through a procedural transition: the speaker notes that Hawkins has already covered many of the key points, invites the superintendent to add comments, and then returns the time to Hawkins after the vote as the committee prepares to change the order of business.
Dale Hawkins — Addressed by members during the exchange.
Nanette Merrill — Nanette Merrill is introduced as the next testifier and then begins her testimony, identifying herself as the executive director of the Idaho Charter School Association and providing background in charter and public education.
Christopher Nouse — Introduced as the next testifier, though the following section indicates the witness is Christopher Canouse.
Christopher Canouse — Christopher Canouse, an active-duty Air Force airman and third-generation veteran, is introduced during the hearing and described in follow-up remarks as someone the committee thanks for his service and as the husband of the prior witness, Ashley Cotton, who mentioned his deployment to the Middle East.
Dan Garner — Addressed by the chair in a thank-you for military service.
Dan Garner — Representative Dan Gardner questioned the superintendent and chairman about how a charter school would affect public school enrollment, arguing that any charter school would draw students from public schools regardless of whether military families were given preference. He asked what difference the military preference would make and why the proposal would hurt Mountain Home School District.
Dan Garner — Asked how long it would take a teacher to earn a master's degree while using the pathway.
Dan Garner — Representative Gardner questioned the bill’s change in provider-selection authority from the board to the executive director, asking why the decision was moved from the full board to one person and seeking clarification on whether the board still votes or if the executive director makes the decision independently.
Ashley Cotton — Ashley Cotton, an active-duty Air Force spouse and charter school graduate, testified about how military life and frequent moves affect her family’s access to education. After relocating to Idaho on short notice, her family found that enrollment windows for strong public charter schools had closed, forcing them to place their stepdaughter in the only available school, which was not a good fit. They later moved again so their daughter could attend a stronger public school, even though her husband now commutes nearly 100 miles to Mountain Home Air Force Base. Cotton argued that military families already endure instability and sacrifice, and that education should not be another burden; the problem in Idaho is not school quality but access to charter school opportunities.
Ralph Binion — Ralph Binion, a retired senior master sergeant from Mountain Home, testified in opposition to Bill 657. He acknowledged the challenges faced by military families but objected to the bill’s charter lottery preference for active duty, Guard, Reserve, and Title 10 students, arguing it would have a negative impact on the Mountain Home School District and could effectively lead to a military-focused charter school. He concluded by offering to answer questions.
Marty Anderson — Marty Anderson is introduced as a virtual witness, initially experiences audio/identification issues, and then provides testimony in support of House Bill 657. He identifies himself as a retired Chief Master Sergeant and former military liaison for the City of Mountain Home, explains his 30-year Air Force career and multiple duty station moves, and describes how military families face stress from timing and limited availability of school programs for their children. He also notes his advocacy for the long-term viability of Mountain Home Air Force Base before concluding his remarks and inviting questions.
Chris Collins — Chris Collins introduced himself and described his 21 years of Army service, including multiple deployments and frequent PCS moves that repeatedly uprooted his family. He explained that after retiring in Idaho, his family’s school experiences—especially his youngest daughter thriving at Gem Prep Charter School—shaped his perspective on the bill. He then connected those experiences to the problem of mid-year enrollment for military families, noting that while the bill would not solve every issue, it would help families enter schools midstream and be first in line for the next school year.
James Gilbert — James Gilbert, superintendent in Mountain Home, states his opposition to the bill and explains that his concern is how it was developed. In response to questions, he says an amendment to Idaho Code 33-525 could be an effective way to address the issue because it would build on existing early enrollment language rather than create new provisions. He further explains that adding charter lottery early enrollment language could help speed placement and address problems faced by active-duty military families.
Chris Mathias — Chris Mathias asks whether an amendment to 33-525 would solve the problem and follows up with a hypothetical about transferring to Mountain Home and placing children on a wait list under the amended provision.
Chris Mathias — Questions why the committee is being asked to choose between a local school district and a charter school, and asks whether there is another way forward.
Chris Mathias — Chris Mathias spoke in support of the motion, identifying himself as a veteran and emphasizing that the issue matters to him personally. He also noted broader legislative actions affecting National Guard families, framing his support within that wider context.
Chris Mathias — Representative Chris Mathias explains that he will not support the motion because several parts of the bill trouble him. He points to specific sections, including language about course requirements and the use of discretionary 'may' language, arguing that the bill should be more mandatory and specific. He also questions whether the proposed training requirements are sufficient and expresses concern about how school board training funds would be used.
Chris Mathias — Asked whether removing the STEM Action Center from the charitable contribution tax deduction language would eliminate contribution ability for the Workforce Development Council.
Chris Mathias — Attempted to make a motion to introduce the RS.
Mr. Gilbert — Mr. Gilbert argued that the proposed Mountain Home charter school was designed to target military-affiliated students, including current students already attending district schools such as Stevenson Elementary, not just incoming families. He said the prioritization of one group over others was intended to bring a specific demographic into the school and raised concerns that the proposal would create a free-for-all allowing charter groups to prioritize placement over founders and others. He added that the bill originated from an information request tied to the proposed charter school and said targeting certain student demographics seemed unfair. Later, he noted the committee had not yet seen the new RS, said the charter school had been advertised in the community for about 16 months, and reiterated that FOIA-obtained information showed military families were the target. When asked for clarification on a later question, he said the issue was problematic because of its impact on the Mountain Home School District.
Barbara Ehardt — Barbara Ehardt questioned the superintendent’s interpretation of the bill, saying she was confused by his explanation and asking for clarification on how many families could be affected, whether founders already have priority, and why founders would not receive first-in-line placement. She then noted she was not tracking the discussion without the new RS, suggested the committee might need to go at ease, and later returned to argue that the committee should focus on the language in front of it. She said the bill appears to address the charter lottery held once a year, asked whether the language already gives founders and children first-in-line spots, and questioned whether allowing military families to enter the next lottery with three options would be problematic. She concluded that the superintendent seemed to be referring to language none of the committee could see.
Barbara Ehardt — Representative Barbara Ehardt is briefly called on during the meeting, and a few minutes later the chair notes that she has turned her light off. These are related procedural mentions of the same member within the same segment.
Barbara Ehardt — Representative Barbara Ehardt was identified as wanting to speak after questioning ended, and then stated her support for the measure while disagreeing with the prior speaker, emphasizing testimony from military families.
Barbara Ehardt — Representative Ehart asked whether requiring a unanimous vote could leave a district without a superintendent and followed up with questions about the practical effects of that requirement.
Barbara Ehardt — Representative Barbara Ehardt asks a series of follow-up questions about whether it is better to have someone serving in the superintendent or leadership role than to have no one at all, emphasizing the difficulty small communities face in finding someone who can help and asking whether support for filling the role would still stand even if the alternative is leaving it vacant.
Anna Garvin — Anna Garvin introduced herself as a mother, veteran, and active-duty military spouse living at Mountain Home Air Force Base. She described her testimony as a full-circle moment, reflecting on her own educational experience and noting that Idaho’s educational rigor felt lower than what she experienced in Washington State. She then explained that she is advocating for her own children so they do not face the same educational gap she did.
Jamie Scarcy / Jamie Searcy / Jamie Sirius (uncertain) — The witness name is unclear due to transcription errors; the record is being corrected in the next section.
Jamie Searcy — Testified in support of House Bill 657 and described her family as a military family stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base.
Blake Udy — Blake Udy is introduced as the next witness, with the chair asking for the correct pronunciation of his name. He then identifies himself, corrects the pronunciation, and testifies on behalf of the Idaho Charter School Network in support of the legislation.
Ms. Perrault — Referenced as the person who can clarify funding details for Mountain Home and the department's position.
Ms. Perrault — Referenced as someone who can clarify the number of active-duty military students.
Mr. Udy — Mr. Udy explains that the bill is not forcing a choice between a charter school and a single district, noting that military children are spread across the state. He then clarifies that Idaho charter school law requires schools to admit any student if there is room, which would prevent a military-only charter school. The surrounding remarks include legislators addressing him, expressing support for military families, and questioning whether the proposal fits the legislation or whether a new school concept is being discussed.
Tony Wisniewski — Says the possibility of a new charter school with more military students raises new questions about grade structure and enrollment.
Tony Wisniewski — Representative Tony Wisniewski was addressed multiple times during a brief exchange about who controls or makes the enrollment priority decision, with the discussion focusing on clarifying who determines the priority list.
former military testifier — An earlier witness is referenced as having raised concerns about a possible problem with the proposal.
Mr. Ude — The committee discussion with Mr. Ude focuses on how the bill affects charter-school admissions and lottery preferences. Members caution that the legislation does not create a new school and ask whether, once a charter lottery is in effect, the bill gives anyone priority or creates de facto military preference. Mr. Ude disagrees with that interpretation and explains that a charter can decide its own preferences if it chooses to run a lottery. The exchange also touches on the Mountain Home charter school waitlist and how the legislation gives charters flexibility in setting preference rules.
Christy Zito — Representative Christy Zito is repeatedly addressed over several minutes, though her name is mis-transcribed in multiple ways (e.g., Vizhnevsky, Viznetsky). The discussion consists of successive calls to her without any substantive change in topic, indicating a single continuous moment of being recognized or addressed in the meeting.