The Senate has amended three controversial education bills. The changes include eliminating the phase-out of an early-retirement program for teachers; restoring funding for busing for academic field trips; adding a two-year sunset to the portions of HB 303 that didn't already have them; and slightly easing a hit to the Boise and Lewiston school districts over their funding for school busing. Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, said the amendments got strong majorities, but he didn't support them. "'Course not - I want to kill 'em all," Schroeder said. He said he thinks a measure that survived that would freeze movement on the teacher salary grid for a year is inviting a lawsuit for the state. All the successful amendments were sponsored by Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene.

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