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Land Board OKs $22M For Schools

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, seated, talks to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 as the state Land Board considers Luna's request to draw on a reserve fund to benefit public schools in Boise, Idaho. (Joe Jaszewski / The Idaho Statesman)
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, seated, talks to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 as the state Land Board considers Luna's request to draw on a reserve fund to benefit public schools in Boise, Idaho. (Joe Jaszewski / The Idaho Statesman)

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, seated, talks to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna on Wednesday as the state Land Board considers Luna's request to draw on a reserve fund to benefit public schools in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Joe Jaszewski)

The Land Board has voted 3-2 to approve a $22 million distribution to public schools next year, which Secretary of State Ben Ysursa said will leave two years worth of reserves. “This is a one-time request of funding,” Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna said, “and therefore I think we have the information necessary. We have the authority and the legal right to do this, and I think that’s clear as trustees that’s not only the right but the responsibility that we have”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

Question: Did the split Land Board do the right thing by OK'ing a $22M transfer from the school endowment fund to help underwrite public schools now?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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