Workshops to focus on airport site
A series of public workshops will be held next week on preliminary findings from a study on redevelopment of the Friedman Memorial Airport site in Hailey if airport operations are relocated. The workshops are intended to include an information exchange and to generate community-wide discussion. The scheduled dates are:
( Tuesday, Feb. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wood River High School Distance Learning Center. A joint session with the Hailey City Council, Blaine County Commission and Friedman Memorial Airport Authority board.
( Wednesday, Feb. 16, 6-8 p.m., Community Campus, Room 301, in Hailey. City of Hailey commissions and boards and agency partners.
( Thursday, Feb. 17, 6-8 p.m., Community Campus Room 301, in Hailey. For all members of the community.
<
All workshops are open to the public.
The information exchanged at these workshops will be used to develop land-use scenarios for the site. The workshops will be hosted by the city of Hailey and the Mead & Hunt team of Hart Howerton, Village Solutions and Ruscitto/Latham/Blanton architects.
Senate hears testimony on ed bills
The state Senate Education Committee is in the midst of hearings on Superintendent Tom Luna's "Students Come First" plan for education reform.
The plan has an emphasis on technology, calling for more online classes, technological teaching tools and laptops for high school students. The plan would pay for these measures by reducing faculty and staff positions by about 1,100 statewide.
"Students Come First" has been lauded by proponents as a cost-saving measure that will bring Idaho classrooms up to date and allow them to become more efficient. Opponents, including the Idaho Democratic Caucus, have rejected the plan because of its call for increased class sizes and reduced student-teacher contact.
The hearings began Tuesday and will be held at 3 p.m. today and tomorrow as well. The public is invited to testify on the bills in person at the Capitol Auditorium, arriving at 2 p.m. to sign up. Comments can also be submitted in writing to spealy@senate.idaho.gov.
