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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><img width="624" height="147" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5312in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D95658.2FE72AD0" alt="Graphical user interface, text
Description automatically generated"></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">March 14, 2023
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:22.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">JFAC advances Governor’s public schools budget recommendation<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little commented today on the passage of his K-12 budget recommendation in the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“THANK YOU to JFAC for your support of our public schools this morning! You put Idaho students and families first by approving increased
pay for teachers and classified staff across the board. We’re making the teaching profession in Idaho more competitive and rewarding, which keeps great teachers in the classroom to help our students achieve.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“Last September, we secured historic investments in public schools and workforce training while cutting taxes, and 80-percent of Idaho voters
approved the move. This is a ‘promises made, promises kept’ moment, and I am proud of my legislative partners for putting IDAHO FIRST.”</span></i></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Last year, Governor Little and the Legislature set aside $330 million for public schools during the 2022 Extraordinary Session in September. Idaho voters approved this
act with an 80-percent majority. The Governor’s budget and JFAC action fulfills this historic commitment to education by:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Targeting
<b>starting teacher pay to Top 10 nationally</b> ($47,477), up from #41 nationally when Governor Little took office.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Strengthening pay for all teachers</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> – including our most
experienced educators -- by $6,359. In total, this adds $145 million for enhanced teacher pay statewide.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Closing the salary gap that schools face for classified staff</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">
by providing $97.4 million to better position schools to hire critical support staff such as cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and paraprofessionals.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Continuing the state’s commitment to
<b>raising take-home pay of teachers and school staff</b> by providing an additional $27.9 million for health insurance benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Providing $48.8 million for the
<b>largest single-year boost of discretionary funding</b> to schools in state history, allowing local schools to meet local needs and defray reliance on property taxes.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Putting forward $2.9 million in
<b>ongoing funding to improve dyslexia outcomes</b> throughout the state through training and outreach.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Making permanent the widely popular
<b>Empowering Parents grants</b> by investing $30 million to continue helping families take charge of education expenses for their children outside the classroom.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Providing $20 million in one-time grants for the Securing Our Future Initiative from the Office of School Safety and Security. Funds will
be used to make meaningful, durable, and demonstrated effective investments in <b>
K-12 school facility security</b> throughout the state.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The budget recommendation now moves to both the House and Senate for final approval.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Please DO NOT REPLY to this message. For press inquiries only, contact the Governor’s press office at (208) 854-3015 or e-mail
</span></i><span style="font-size:8.0pt"><a href="mailto:Madison.Hardy@gov.idaho.gov"><i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Madison.Hardy@gov.idaho.gov</span></i></a></span><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">To unsubscribe from these announcements, send an e-mail to
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