The governor’s education stakeholders task force is launching its seven-city tour of the state this week, with the first public forum tomorrow night in Nampa. Boise State Public Radio reports that attendees at the Nampa forum, set for 6:30 p.m. at the Nampa High School Little Theater, will see five to 10 of the task force’s 31 members, hear a short speech by the chairman, and then the floor will be turned over to the attendees. “These sessions are to get public feedback and input, and so the bulk of these forums will be to hear from the public who attends,” she says.

Here are the questions the State Board of Education wants people to consider before speaking at the meetings:

* What is the basic amount of funding needed to adequately educate a student in Idaho?

* Given the finite amount of funding, how would you like it spent in your school?

* How should/could we balance a decentralized model with the Constitutional requirement for a uniform, thorough, common system of education?

* Is funding based on attendance an appropriate model?

* What should be the measure(s) to hold schools and districts accountable?

* What should we be measuring with respect to student achievement?

* What should be done about schools/districts that continually underperform?

* What professional technical education skills would you like to see taught in high school?

The hearings continue on Thursday night in Twin Falls, next Monday in Lewiston, April 16 in Coeur d’Alene, April 22 in Idaho Falls, April 23 in Pocatello and April 25 in Boise; you can see Boise State Public Radio’s full report here.

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