Wednesday, November 8, 2006

State schools candidate makes pitch in Ketchum

Results still not final in tight race


By TREVOR SCHUBERT
Express Staff Writer

Jana Jones, the Democratic candidate for Idaho superintendent of schools, answers questions and addresses local concerns. Photo by David N. Seelig

With time dwindling before Election Day, state superintendent of schools candidate Jana Jones on Thursday made Ketchum one of the last stops on her arduous campaign trail.

Jones, a Democrat, the current chief deputy superintendent, had been locked in a tight race with Republican Tom Luna, an Idaho businessman. The latest polls showed Jones with a three-point lead while 23 percent of voters remain undecided.

While in Ketchum, Jones took questions from the media and voters in a two-hour, live radio broadcast from Roosevelt Tavern.

The bulk of the questions swirled around Proposition 1, the controversial initiative to increase K-12 education funding. Jones supports the measure, and Luna does not. Proposition 1 took a hit earlier this year when the Legislature, led by Gov. Jim Risch, raised Idaho's sales tax 1 percent to pay for a planned reduction in property taxes. The increase in sales tax revenue was initially intended to pay for additional education funding.

Prop 1 has a clause built in, stating that if sales tax revenue is not available it is the job of the Legislature to develop alternative revenue streams. Opponents say it is irresponsible to pass a bill when there is no defined means of providing the required money.

"If the will of the people is they want funding for public schools, then it's my job to work with the Legislator to figure out where we can find those funding sources," Jones said.

Both candidates have stated they intend to return local control back to the individual school districts. However, even on issues where Jones and Luna appear at a glance to be in agreement, closer inspection reveals large rifts in policy.

"What he (Luna) describes as local control is very different'" Jones said. "He has come out in his proposal with a bunch of initiatives," or directives that according to Jones blanket the state with a one-size-fits-all approach to spending.

"I have proposed to increase the discretionary spending for schools," because each district's needs are different, Jones said. Discretionary spending allows the individual districts to decide what area(s) additional funds will have the greatest impact.

"When you budget that way (with initiatives), you've taken away all local control."

Jones also discussed the need to return respectability and pride to Idaho's teachers.

"Education as a whole over the past four or five years has really taken a beating," Jones said. The misperception is, "we're not doing right; we're not doing enough" when, in fact, Idaho schools have been making large and positive strides while the teachers continue to be subjected to this stigma, she said.

"What I want is our public education system to be respected and to be valued," Jones said. "You do this by acknowledging what teachers are doing that is good, know where we need to improve. We work to improve it, and we'll give you the resources to help you do it."

Results for the state superintendent race were not available by press time Tuesday night.




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