Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, quizzed state schools Superintendent Tom Luna about how he interpreted a one-time appropriation in the current year’s budget, with intent language about installing and maintaining wireless networks in high schools, as authorizing a multi-year contract. Luna signed a five- to 15-year contract with Education Networks of America for the service over the summer.

Luna read the intent language to the budget committee. “I definitely understand how others have read this differently, and I take responsibility,” he said. “I think it’s obvious to me that this is something that is wanted by our schools and is needed by our schools.” He noted that the governor’s education task force recommended wireless not only in high schools, but in all schools. “But going forward, whether it’s the funding stream or the intent language, what I learned is it needs to be very, very clear what everyone is expecting, how this is going to be implemented going forward.”