Dave Lent — Continues questioning the pay implications of the bill.
Dave Lent — Poses a hypothetical about where a returning superintendent would land on the career ladder.
Dave Lent — Continues probing whether returning educators would receive less money.
Dave Lent — Was asked whether returning administrators would receive less money on the career ladder; response suggested they would probably fall lower, but the added years would still make a difference.
Dave Lent — Was addressed as Mr. Chairman while the question about lifetime certificates and service years was asked.
Dave Lent — Was addressed as Chairman Lent during the question about whether administrative years count toward the lifetime certificate.
Dave Lent — Presided over the motion and vote on Senate Bill 1358.
Dave Lent — Dave Lent is addressed by speakers as Chairman/Mr. Chairman during the committee meeting, including an opening greeting and a later closing reference, reflecting direct acknowledgment of his role as chair.
Michael Jacobson of Swan Valley — Identified as a remote witness who will testify.
Michael Jacobson — Michael Jacobson begins by thanking Senator Lent for allowing him to testify virtually. He then shares a personal example, explaining that a couple of years ago he considered returning to the classroom as a secondary math teacher. He concludes by saying he has remained stagnant on the career ladder since then.
Andy Grover — Andy Grover appears as the next in-person witness, then introduces himself as the Executive Director of the Idaho Association of School Administrators and states that he is in support of the bill.
Mr. Grover — Mr. Grover was asked follow-up questions about how the newly passed lifetime certificate law and career ladder provisions would work, specifically whether administrative service years would count and how placement would be determined. He explained that administrative years could count if the prior three evaluations were proficient or higher, and that advancement on the career ladder would still depend on showing proficiency and evaluation results.
Carrie Semmelroth — Likely the intended senator being addressed; asked about the lifetime certificate and follow-up questions.
Carrie Semmelroth — Asked whether an administrator without instructional experience could still be placed on the career ladder.
Carrie Semmelroth — Was again addressed regarding the evaluation-based standard for moving on the career ladder.
Carrie Semmelroth — Made the motion to send Senate Bill 1358 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Mr. Jacobson — Mr. Jacobson is identified as a testifier from Swan Valley in the senator’s district and is praised as a strong example of what a superintendent can do.
Christy Zito — Asked for clarification on how the career ladder works when a teacher moves into administration and later returns.
Christy Zito — Sought confirmation that career ladder positions are preserved and administrative experience can increase placement if the educator returns.
Christy Zito — Raised the point that superintendent pay is separate from the career ladder and negotiated with the board.
Christy Zito — Her district was referenced as containing Mountain Home, a public school district serving many military families.
James Woodward — Senator James Woodward was introduced as the sponsor of House Bill 762 and then presented the bill, explaining that it addresses charter school admissions and lottery prioritization.
James Woodward — James Woodward closes out the committee discussion by agreeing with Mr. Collins’s point about the bill language and citing examples in the existing and proposed code that show flexibility. He then announces that the motion carries, thanks the participants for their work and attendance, and adjourns the meeting for the day.
Tammy Perrault — Tammy Perrault was introduced as the first witness on House Bill 762 and then testified in support of the bill on behalf of the Department of War and Idaho’s military students and families. She explained that she was representing more than 7,000 K-12 military students in Idaho and concluded by asking the committee to pass the bill out of committee.
Danette Merrill — Danette Merrill, Executive Director of the Idaho Charter School Association, testified in support of House Bill 762. She described the emotional and practical hardships military-connected students and families face during deployments and relocations, arguing that charter school access should not add another burden. She framed the bill as a practical response to enrollment barriers for active-duty families and closed by saying the measure is fundamentally about fairness and honoring service with meaningful support.
Christopher Canouse — Christopher Canouse, an active-duty Air Force airman and third-generation veteran, testified about his service and the importance of supporting military families. He emphasized that while he is proud of his military career, his family is central to his mission and that frequent relocations make stable, high-quality public school access especially important for his daughter. He closed by asking the committee to support the bill and thanked them for standing with Idaho’s military families.
Ashley Cotton — Ashley Cotton was introduced as a forthcoming witness and then testified in support of the bill as an active-duty Air Force spouse, charter school graduate, and stepmother in Idaho. She described how repeated deployment extensions and a rapid move to Idaho disrupted family life and school planning, forcing her family to make difficult moves and long commutes to secure a strong public school for their daughter. She concluded that the core issue is access, arguing that military families deserve access to these educational opportunities.
Steve Lambert — Steve Lambert was introduced as a virtual witness and then testified in support of the military charter school bill. He identified himself as a retired Air Force veteran living in Idaho and explained that, based on his experience moving 19 times during his active-duty career, military families often face difficult school transitions. He said the bill would help military-connected students by improving access to existing schools when waitlists are an issue, and he emphasized the need for greater stability and options for these children.
Mr. Lambert — Mr. Lambert concluded his testimony in support of the bill, stressing that it would help military families, support military readiness, and protect service members and their families during transitions. The chair then thanked him and opened the floor for questions.
Emily Downey — Emily Downey, executive director of SAGE International Charter Schools and an Air Force wife and daughter of a career Army officer, testified about how military family moves affected her family’s educational experiences. She described her sister’s need for tutoring after moving from Germany to Virginia and how gaps in schooling followed her, then explained that her own education also required financial sacrifices when public schools could not meet her needs. Drawing on those experiences, she asked Idaho lawmakers to allow a modest annual preference in charter school lotteries for military families, and then concluded her testimony with thanks.
Christopher Collins — Christopher Collins is introduced as an upcoming witness in the hearing, mentioned alongside other forthcoming witnesses in the order of testimony.
Amanda Finster — Amanda Finster is introduced several times before testifying as an active-duty U.S. Air Force senior master. In her testimony, she explains that she is also a mother and wife, and that maintaining educational stability for her children is mission-critical to her family’s well-being and military readiness. She describes how frequent permanent change-of-station moves disrupt her children’s schooling, and notes that her son currently attends Stevenson Elementary School, a Purple Star School.
Chris Collins — Chris Collins, a 21-year Army veteran and Idaho resident, testified in support of House Bill 762. He explained that his family moved eight times during his military career, arguing that children’s educational opportunities should not depend on luck or repeated relocations. He described the bill as a targeted, practical solution and asked for the committee’s support. Subsequent remarks thanked him for his service and referenced his testimony in the context of a question for his daughter, Coco.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Semmelroth thanked Chris Collins for his service and then directed questions to Coco about her school experience, including a follow-up asking what she likes about her school in Boise and discussing school moves.
Coco Collins — Coco Collins described appreciating the flexibility and schedule breaks at her Boise charter school, explaining that the arrangement helps her get to school and fit her needs. A committee member then responded by praising her for thriving in that setting and finding the right school situation.
Jamie Searcy — Jamie Searcy is introduced 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. Speaking with her daughter present, she offers testimony in support of House Bill 762.
Bryn — Bryn is introduced and then testifies that military kids deserve priority not as special treatment, but for stability so they can focus on learning while rebuilding their lives. The discussion then reinforces that she is adept at adapting to new environments, tying her personal experience to the broader point about resilience and the need for stability.
Bryn Searcy — A sixth-grade military child testifying about fairness and priority status at charter schools.
Kevin Cook — Addresses Bryn directly and asks whether she plans to be a politician.
Kevin Cook — Referenced earlier as the person asking questions and now indirectly in the closing exchange.
Kevin Cook — Called on for committee discussion or comments and then made a motion.
Anna Garvin — Anna Garvin is introduced as one of the next witnesses, then she identifies herself as a mother, veteran, and active-duty military spouse living on Mountain Home Air Force Base.
Lake Yowd — Introduced as one of the next witnesses.
Mr. Collins — Referenced as having made a good point during testimony.
Dave Lent — Thanked by the remote witness for allowing virtual participation.
Dave Lent — Thanked by the witness at the end of testimony.
Dave Lent — Indicates he has a question and is not yet ready to support the bill.
Dave Lent — Asks whether returning administrators would receive the same pay or a different placement.
Dave Lent — Continued opening procedure and introduced the agenda.
Dave Lent — Addressed as Mr. Chairman and then thanked the presenter.