Two other supplemental appropriation requests related to the defunct Idaho Education Network also have been approved by JFAC this morning. The first, at $176,000, transfers remaining funds from a federal grant that was formerly used for paying teacher stipends and training under the IEN back to the public instruction fund at the state Superintendent of Public Instruction’s office. The second returns $461,800 in leftover grant funds to the J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation, which were part of a much larger grant to build the IEN.

 “I’m glad that we are putting this money back into the foundation,” said Senate Education Chairman Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls. “Not that we didn’t use it; we used most of it that we needed to.” Mortimer expressed gratitude to the Albertson Foundation. “They have been such a strong supporter of education and innovation,” he said. “I just want to take a moment to thank them again, and look forward to working with them in the future.”

Both proposals won unanimous, 20-0 support in JFAC.