Wayne Hoffman, head of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, announced today that his group has filed a lawsuit against the Boise School District, raising constitutional questions about the district’s contract with its local teachers association because it allows paid leave for members who are delegates to attend Idaho Education Association conferences and covers $35,932 toward the salary and benefits of the association president, a teacher who takes leave to fulfill association duties.

“This lawsuit is intended to defend students and taxpayers from greedy union bosses who have figured out how to pull money and resources out of Idaho’s classrooms in order to feather their own nests,” Hoffman declared at a press conference he called on the Statehouse steps, which he touted in a media advisory as announcing a “new effort to ensure education dollars are appropriately spent in schools.” The complaint, filed Saturday in 4th District Court in Boise, is online here.

Boise School District spokesman Dan Hollar sent out this statement in response: “The Boise School District Administration and Board of Trustees do not comment about pending litigation. However, it’s important for people to remember that for the last 20 years Boise School District has benefited from a longstanding collaborative relationship with the Boise Education Association. This partnership continues to foster a culture of respect and teamwork in the district where our professional educators are valued for their work in ensuring our community’s students are provided every opportunity to succeed in college, career and citizenship. It is due to this positive ongoing working relationship that Boise School District is highly regarded in our state and nation as a high performing comprehensive public school system.”