Lawmakers have continued discussing who should be on the new commission they’re recommending to oversee state school broadband aid, with proposals for seven members, nine members, and various other approaches. There’s also been discussion of calling the group a “committee” or “advisory committee” or something else rather than a commission, and dropping the idea of having the group hire a “chief executive officer,” as envisioned in last year’s HB 315.

Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, proposed dropping the CEO. “I think it just goes to paying somebody too much money that we don’t need,” he said. Instead, the commission could work with a designated person at the state Department of Education, like the department’s chief technology officer.

Sen. Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, proposed a seven-member commission; Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, seconded the motion. The proposals calls for representatives of the state superintendent; the state Board of Education; a large and small school district superintendent; a librarian; and two representatives of the Idaho Education Technology Association, which consists of school technology directors. That motion passed unanimously; the panel has now gone on a lunch break until 1:15.