How to Fix Idaho's School Funding Crisis: Contact our State Legislators
- Sara Daugherty
- Mar 20, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 25, 2024
To support local kids in school today, we are stuck with the current funding model described in our previous article Why Do We Even Have Levies? Lack of local funding for education only hurts local kids’ prospects in the short run and cripples the local economy in the long run as working families relocate to places with better education opportunities.
The only way to change this is through legislative action. You can help by contacting our local representatives and tell them you want the legislature to change the school funding model.
Here are the District 7 state Senator and House Representatives and their contact information. At the end of the blog, you’ll find example letters you can use when contacting them about fixing funding for education.
Senator Cindy Carlson (R)
Cindy Carlson is the District 7 Senator. She is in her first term and resides in Riggins. Senator Carlson is on the Agriculture Affairs, Education, and Transportation Senate committees.
Contact information:
Senator Cindy J. Carlson
1525 Big Salmon Road
Riggins, Idaho 83549
Home: (208) 494-2633
Statehouse when in session: (208) 332-1355
Representative Mike Kingsley (R)
Mike Kingsley is the District 7 Representative for House Seat A. He is in his fourth (and final) term and resides in Lewiston. Representative Kingsley is on the Local Government, Commerce & Human Resources, and Health & Welfare House committees.
Contact information:
Rep. Mike Kingsley
3413 Bluebird Cir.
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
Home: (208) 791-8600
Statehouse when in session: (208) 332-1133
Representative Charlie Shepherd (R)
Charlie Shepherd is the District 7 Representative for House Seat B. He is in his second term and resides in Pollock. Representative Shepherd is on the Resources & Conservation, Revenue & Taxation, and Transportation & Defense House committees.
Contact Information:
Rep. Charlie Shepherd
PO Box 293
Pollock, Idaho 83547
Home: (208) 859-0023
Statehouse when in session: (208) 332-1067
Education Committees
Both the House and the Senate have Education Committees that meet during the legislative session to assist the Idaho legislature in forming policies, laws, and legislation for Idaho’s education. Follow the links to see the meeting agendas, minutes; as well as the committee members with their contact information.
Example Letter for Contacting Legislators
Form letters make contacting legislators quick and easy. They ensure your message is clear, unite voices on this important issue, and encourage more people to take action. Use one of the letters below as a starting point to send a loud and clear message to the Idaho legislature. Feel free to make it your own by adding or modifying the text to let them know what is important to you and why.
[Today’s date]
[Legislator’s Name]
[District Office Address]
[City, State Zip Code]
Subject: Time to Change School Funding in Idaho
Dear [Legislator’s Name],
I'm writing from the [area] of District 7 because I'm concerned about how schools are funded. Right now, Idaho relies too much on extra money from local taxes (supplemental levies) to fund education. This isn't fair because not all communities and citizens can afford this, leading to big differences in what schools can offer their students. It also places an unfair tax burden on patrons with large amounts of property for purposes like agricultural production.
Idaho’s Constitution says it's your job to make sure all kids have access to good schools. But the current way we fund schools with property taxes and supplemental levies isn't working. It's creating inequality and making it hard for some schools to have things like sports, music, and other important programs.
In 2006, a law tried to fix this by shifting more responsibility to the state, but it didn't work out. Now, more than ever, schools depend on these local taxes just to keep the basics going. I'm asking you to look at this problem and find a better way to fund our schools so every child in Idaho gets a fair chance at a great education no matter where they live.
Thank you for considering my concerns. Our kids and our future depend on it.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Contact Information]
[Today’s date]
[Legislator’s Name]
[District Office Address]
[City, State Zip Code]
Subject: Urgent Need for Increased Funding for Public Education in Idaho
Dear [Legislator’s Name],
I hope this letter finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I am a concerned resident of [City]. I am writing to you as my elected [representative or senator] to express my deep concern regarding the current state of funding for public education in Idaho.
I am a firm believer in the importance of education as the cornerstone of a thriving society, and the Idaho Constitution mandates that every child has access to quality education through a system of free schools. However, it has come to my attention that many school districts within our state are forced to resort to supplemental levies to make up for the insufficient funding provided by the state.
While I understand the challenges in allocating resources, I believe that ensuring a robust and adequately funded public education system is not only a constitutional duty but also a moral imperative for the well-being and future prosperity for the great State of Idaho. The reliance on supplemental levies places an undue burden on local communities and exacerbates educational disparities among school districts.
I urge you, as my elected [representative or senator], to champion the cause of education and advocate for increased state funding to alleviate the need for supplemental levies. Our children deserve fair access to high-quality education that prepares them for the challenges of the future. I am confident that, with your leadership, we can ensure that the promise of free schools, as outlined in our state constitution, is upheld for every child in Idaho.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I appreciate your dedication to serving our community.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Contact Information]