1 00:00:04,070 --> 00:00:06,139 >> WELCOME TO THE IDAHO DEBATES. 2 00:00:06,139 --> 00:00:08,441 TONIGHT, THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CANDIDATES FOR 3 00:00:08,441 --> 00:00:10,910 SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 4 00:00:10,910 --> 00:00:16,516 THE IDAHO DEBATES IS ORGANIZED BY THESE PARTNERS. 5 00:00:16,516 --> 00:00:19,819 FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC 6 00:00:19,819 --> 00:00:22,422 TELEVISION, THE IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION ENDOWMENT, AND CAN 7 00:00:22,422 --> 00:00:26,960 THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. 8 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,363 >> WELCOME TO THE IDAHO DEBATES AT THE IDAHO PUBLIC 9 00:00:30,363 --> 00:00:32,665 TELEVISION STUDIOS. THIS IS THE SECOND DEBATE 10 00:00:32,665 --> 00:00:35,702 WE'RE HOSTING BEFORE THE MAY 17th PRIMARY ELECTION. 11 00:00:35,702 --> 00:00:38,605 TONIGHT THE THREE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR SUPERINTENDENT 12 00:00:38,605 --> 00:00:41,941 TAKE TO THE STAGE TO ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. 13 00:00:41,941 --> 00:00:45,779 THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION OVERSEES 14 00:00:45,779 --> 00:00:48,248 OPERATIONS AT THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND IS 15 00:00:48,248 --> 00:00:50,583 A CHAMPION FOR EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE. 16 00:00:50,583 --> 00:00:54,087 THE WINNER OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WILL FACE DEMOCRATIC 17 00:00:54,087 --> 00:00:57,457 CANDIDATE TERRY GILBERT IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION. 18 00:00:57,457 --> 00:01:00,393 I WANT TO WELCOME THE CANDIDATES, BRANDEN DURST, 19 00:01:00,393 --> 00:01:04,731 DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD, AND SHERRI YBARRA. 20 00:01:04,731 --> 00:01:06,699 DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER BRANDEN DURST SERVEDDED IN IDAHO HOUSE 21 00:01:06,699 --> 00:01:09,302 FOR TWO TERMS AND THE IDAHO SENATE FOR ONE YEAR. 22 00:01:09,302 --> 00:01:12,839 HE CURRENTLY WORKS AS A MEDIATOR. 23 00:01:12,839 --> 00:01:15,341 DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE IDAHO 24 00:01:15,341 --> 00:01:17,977 STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR TWO YEARS, AFTER BEING 25 00:01:17,977 --> 00:01:20,713 APPOINTED TO THE BOARD IN 2014. 26 00:01:20,713 --> 00:01:25,084 SHE IS ALSO SERVED ON THE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. 27 00:01:25,084 --> 00:01:27,620 AND INCUMBENT SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION SHERRI YBARRA 28 00:01:27,620 --> 00:01:31,224 IS SERVING HER THIRD TERM IN OFFICE, PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED 29 00:01:31,224 --> 00:01:56,850 SHE WORKED IN THE MOUNTAIN HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT. 30 00:01:56,850 --> 00:02:00,353 CAR LIEN DAVIS VOLUNTEER TIMEKEEPERS FROM THE LEAGUE OF 31 00:02:00,353 --> 00:02:02,889 WOMEN VOTERS. EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE GIVEN 32 00:02:02,889 --> 00:02:06,159 90 SECONDS FOR OPENING COMMENTS, AND 60 SECONDS FOR 33 00:02:06,159 --> 00:02:08,795 CLOSING STATEMENTS. WE DREW NUMBERS A FEW MINUTES 34 00:02:08,795 --> 00:02:12,832 AGO TO SEE WHO WOULD GO FIRST. AND SENATOR DURST, YOU HAVE 35 00:02:12,832 --> 00:02:20,707 THAT HONOR. >> I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS 36 00:02:20,707 --> 00:02:22,709 DEBATE TODAY. THE NEXT HOUR YOU'RE GOING TO 37 00:02:22,709 --> 00:02:24,878 HEAR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TWO 38 00:02:24,878 --> 00:02:27,213 COMPETING VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF IDAHO SCHOOLS. 39 00:02:27,213 --> 00:02:30,917 THE LADIES TO MY LEFT WILL PROVIDE A VISION THAT'S BASED 40 00:02:30,917 --> 00:02:35,522 ON INSIDER VIEWS, THE BELIEFS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS KNOW 41 00:02:35,522 --> 00:02:37,924 BEST AND BELIEVE WE SHUT DOUBLE DOWN ON A SYSTEM OF 42 00:02:37,924 --> 00:02:39,993 EDUCATION THAT HASN'T WORKED FOR SO MANY FAMILIES. 43 00:02:39,993 --> 00:02:42,862 MY VISION, THE VISION OF AN OUTSIDER IS VERY DIFFERENT. 44 00:02:42,862 --> 00:02:44,831 I BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY. 45 00:02:44,831 --> 00:02:47,467 I THINK WE NEED TO PUT PARENTS BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF 46 00:02:47,467 --> 00:02:49,569 THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GET 47 00:02:49,569 --> 00:02:55,575 GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY, AND LET PARENTS -- WE'VE GOT A LOT 48 00:02:55,575 --> 00:02:57,644 OF STAKE. WE'VE ALL SEEN THE THINGS 49 00:02:57,644 --> 00:03:00,914 HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS. CRITICAL RACE THEORY, SOCIAL 50 00:03:00,914 --> 00:03:04,884 JUSTICE DOCTRINATION, THE SEXUALIZATION OF OUR STUDENTS. 51 00:03:04,884 --> 00:03:07,620 I HAVE PLANS AND I'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO MAKE SERIOUS 52 00:03:07,620 --> 00:03:10,790 CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO FIX OUR SCHOOLS, AND TO 53 00:03:10,790 --> 00:03:13,560 HELP ALL OF OUR STUDENTS SUCCEED. 54 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,362 AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES IS IF 55 00:03:16,362 --> 00:03:18,464 WE'RE SATISFIED WITH OUR CURRENT EDUCATION SYSTEM. 56 00:03:18,464 --> 00:03:22,068 IF WE ARE, ONE OF THE INSIDERS WOULD BE A GREAT CHOICE. 57 00:03:22,068 --> 00:03:24,237 BUT IF YOU BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, IF YOU 58 00:03:24,237 --> 00:03:27,173 BELIEVE WE NEED TO GET BACK TO TRUSTING PARENTS AGAIN, MY 59 00:03:27,173 --> 00:03:30,343 NAME IS BRANDEN DURST AND I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO 60 00:03:30,343 --> 00:03:32,545 BE YOUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 61 00:03:32,545 --> 00:03:35,481 THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SENATOR DURST. 62 00:03:35,481 --> 00:03:38,318 UP NEXT, MRS. CRITCHFIELD. >> Debbie Critchfield: THANK 63 00:03:38,318 --> 00:03:40,853 YOU, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD, 64 00:03:40,853 --> 00:03:44,624 MY HUSBAND AND DAVE AND I ARE FOURTH-GENERATION FARMERS IN 65 00:03:44,624 --> 00:03:47,160 THE MAGIC VALLEY WHERE OUR FOUR CHILDREN ATTENDED PUBLIC 66 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,896 SCHOOLS. I WAS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, A 67 00:03:49,896 --> 00:03:55,468 GED INSTRUCTOR FOR CSI AND A 10-YEAR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. 68 00:03:55,468 --> 00:04:00,173 FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS HAVE BEEN THE PUBLIC INFORMATION 69 00:04:00,173 --> 00:04:02,141 OFFICER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER. 70 00:04:02,141 --> 00:04:06,112 IN 2014, I WAS APPOINTED TO IDAHO'S BOARD OF EDUCATION BY 71 00:04:06,112 --> 00:04:09,816 GOVERNOR OTTER, AND THEN LATER APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR LITTLE. 72 00:04:09,816 --> 00:04:13,152 IT'S BECAUSE OF MY SERVICE OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS THAT 73 00:04:13,152 --> 00:04:17,123 I HAVE HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT AT THE STATE EDUCATION TABLE AND 74 00:04:17,123 --> 00:04:19,959 I CAN TELL YOU, IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE. 75 00:04:19,959 --> 00:04:23,229 I'M RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS DESERVE 76 00:04:23,229 --> 00:04:25,098 MORE. I'M RUNNING BECAUSE OUR 77 00:04:25,098 --> 00:04:28,167 PARENTS EXPECT MORE AND OUR KIDS NEED MORE. 78 00:04:28,167 --> 00:04:30,903 GREAT SCHOOLS MATTER FOR IDAHO. 79 00:04:30,903 --> 00:04:34,907 THE CORE OF MY VISION PUTS SKILLS AND WORK READINESS AT 80 00:04:34,907 --> 00:04:36,876 THE CENTER OF AN IDAHO EDUCATION. 81 00:04:36,876 --> 00:04:38,811 AND IT BEGINS WITH A STRONG START. 82 00:04:38,811 --> 00:04:41,514 WHEN OUR KIDS CAN READ AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT AS WE 83 00:04:41,514 --> 00:04:44,484 PREPARE OUR STUDENTS AND KIDS FOR THEIR LIVES AND THEIR 84 00:04:44,484 --> 00:04:47,754 CAREERS, AND IT MUST TAKE IN A COMPONENT OF FINANCIAL 85 00:04:47,754 --> 00:04:50,289 LITERACY. WE NEED ENGAGED PARENTS AND WE 86 00:04:50,289 --> 00:04:53,660 NEED TO PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH THE RESOURCES AND SKILLS AND 87 00:04:53,660 --> 00:04:56,929 TOOLS THEY HAVE FOR THE MODERN CLASSROOM, AND YOU NEED A 88 00:04:56,929 --> 00:05:00,967 SUPERINTENDENT THAT WILL LISTEN, WORK, AND ACT. 89 00:05:00,967 --> 00:05:05,004 I HAVE THE SKILLS, BACKGROUND, EXPERIENCE, AND EDUCATION TO 90 00:05:05,004 --> 00:05:09,709 BE ABLE TO FILL THIS ROLE. AND I WILL LEAD ON DAY ONE. 91 00:05:09,709 --> 00:05:11,811 >> Aaron Kunz: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 92 00:05:11,811 --> 00:05:13,046 FINALLY, SUPERINTENDENT YBARRA. 93 00:05:13,046 --> 00:05:14,781 >> Sherri Ybarra: FIRST OF ALL, LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING 94 00:05:14,781 --> 00:05:17,684 THANK YOU TO IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, THE PANEL TONIGHT, 95 00:05:17,684 --> 00:05:20,820 AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK 96 00:05:20,820 --> 00:05:24,357 DIRECTLY TO THE AUDIENCE OF IDAHO AND THE VOTERS ABOUT WHY 97 00:05:24,357 --> 00:05:30,363 I'M ASKING FOR ANOTHER TERM AS YOUR 25th SUPERINTENDENT I 98 00:05:30,363 --> 00:05:32,665 LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AND ALL THE PROGRESS OUR 99 00:05:32,665 --> 00:05:37,470 STUDENTS HAVE MADE IN EDUCATION, WE ARE LEADING THIS R 100 00:05:37,470 --> 00:05:40,973 EXAMPLE, OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN RANKED 31st IN THE 101 00:05:40,973 --> 00:05:44,143 PAST. WE HAVE NOW MOVED TO 17th IN 102 00:05:44,143 --> 00:05:46,679 THE NATION FOR ACHIEVEMENT. WE'VE BEEN RANKED NUMBER ONE 103 00:05:46,679 --> 00:05:48,881 FOR COLLEGE CREDITS EARNED WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE 104 00:05:48,881 --> 00:05:51,918 ARE FIFTH IN THE NATION FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READY AND 105 00:05:51,918 --> 00:05:55,555 OUR FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. 106 00:05:55,555 --> 00:05:58,725 I HAVE SECURED NEARLY $100 MILLION OF NEW MONEY 107 00:05:58,725 --> 00:06:01,561 SINCE I TOOK OFFICE IN THIS POSITION. 108 00:06:01,561 --> 00:06:05,631 UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE BROUGHT OUR EDUCATIONAL PLAN 109 00:06:05,631 --> 00:06:08,234 TO LIFE AND I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE ON THIS STAGE 110 00:06:08,234 --> 00:06:13,206 TONIGHT THAT IS A CERTIFIED K-12 TEACHER, A PRINCIPAL, A 111 00:06:13,206 --> 00:06:15,408 SUPERINTENDENT, AND NOW YOUR STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC 112 00:06:15,408 --> 00:06:19,312 INSTRUCTION. I KNOW THAT OUR OVER 300,000 113 00:06:19,312 --> 00:06:23,282 STUDENTS IN IDAHO DESERVE AN EXPERIENCED LEADER LIKE MYSELF 114 00:06:23,282 --> 00:06:26,552 THAT CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EVERYTHING 115 00:06:26,552 --> 00:06:29,422 THAT THEY'VE DONE UP TO THIS POINT OVER THE LAST SEVEN 116 00:06:29,422 --> 00:06:32,725 YEARS. I HAVE RESPONSIBLY HANDLED A 117 00:06:32,725 --> 00:06:36,329 NEARLY -- AN OVER$2 BILLION BUDGET I HAVE THE STRONG TEAM 118 00:06:36,329 --> 00:06:39,665 IN PLACE TO MOVE FORWARD AND TAKE US TO THE TOP 10 IN THIS 119 00:06:39,665 --> 00:06:42,935 NATION. I LOVE MY JOB, AND I HUMBLING 120 00:06:42,935 --> 00:06:45,438 ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ONCE AGAIN AS IDAHO'S 121 00:06:45,438 --> 00:06:48,174 SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 122 00:06:48,174 --> 00:06:50,009 >> Aaron Kunz: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THOSE OPENING 123 00:06:50,009 --> 00:06:51,778 STATEMENTS. NOW LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE 124 00:06:51,778 --> 00:06:54,981 QUESTIONS, FOR THAT WE GO TO KEVIN RICHERT WITH THE FIRST 125 00:06:54,981 --> 00:06:57,517 QUESTION FOR SENATOR DURST. >> Kevin Richert: SENATOR 126 00:06:57,517 --> 00:07:01,320 DURST, YOU WOULD BE THE FIRST FORMER LEGISLATOR ELECTED 127 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,790 STATE SUPERINTENDENT. YOU'VE TOUTED THAT AS AN 128 00:07:03,790 --> 00:07:07,727 ADVANTAGE, BUT IDAHO HAS A LONG HISTORY OF ELECTING SUIT 129 00:07:07,727 --> 00:07:09,896 SUPERINTENDENTS WHO HAVE AN EDUCATION BACKGROUND AND AN 130 00:07:09,896 --> 00:07:11,230 UNDERSTANDING OF THE CLASSROOM. 131 00:07:11,230 --> 00:07:14,700 HOW WOULD YOU STRIKE THE BALANCE BETWEEN POLITICAL 132 00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:16,569 BACKGROUND AND AN UNDERSTANDING MUCH CLASSROOM 133 00:07:16,569 --> 00:07:20,973 WHEN YOU HAVE NO EDUCATION BACKGROUND OF YOUR OWN? 134 00:07:20,973 --> 00:07:23,209 >> Branden Durst: I DO HAVE AN EDUCATION BACKGROUND. 135 00:07:23,209 --> 00:07:25,578 THE NEXT TWO WEEKS I'LL HAVE AN EDUCATION SPECIALIST DEGREE 136 00:07:25,578 --> 00:07:31,150 IN EXECUTIVE EDUCATION LEADERSHIP, AND I'VE BEEN AN 137 00:07:31,150 --> 00:07:33,853 INSTRUCTOR IN CORE CURRICULUM DEVELOPER. 138 00:07:33,853 --> 00:07:37,123 WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND ONE OF THE 139 00:07:37,123 --> 00:07:38,891 REASONS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE HAS 140 00:07:38,891 --> 00:07:42,829 BEEN SO INFURTHER AND SO INFECTIVE, NOT JUST IN THIS 141 00:07:42,829 --> 00:07:45,131 CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, BUT IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, IS 142 00:07:45,131 --> 00:07:48,267 BECAUSE OF A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW STATE 143 00:07:48,267 --> 00:07:50,903 GOVERNMENT WORKS AND A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE 144 00:07:50,903 --> 00:07:54,640 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN IDAHO. THERE'S NO -- THERE SHOULD BE 145 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:58,311 NO QUESTION AS TO WHY SO MANY STATES WHO CURRENTLY ELECT 146 00:07:58,311 --> 00:08:00,546 THEIR SUPERINTENDENTS FOLLOW THE SAME PATH I HAVE FOLLOWED. 147 00:08:00,546 --> 00:08:03,416 THEY BELIEVE WE -- YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE TOTALITY OF 148 00:08:03,416 --> 00:08:06,152 STATE GOVERNMENT AS I DO, AND HAVING A MASTER'S DEGREE IN 149 00:08:06,152 --> 00:08:10,323 PUBLIC POLICY, HAVING A SPECIALIST DEGREE IN 150 00:08:10,323 --> 00:08:12,358 EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND HAVING THE DIVERSE BACKGROUND 151 00:08:12,358 --> 00:08:16,863 I HAVE FREQUENT PAIRS ME TO DO THAT. 152 00:08:16,863 --> 00:08:18,564 IF WE WANT TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY IN THE STATE, WE 153 00:08:18,564 --> 00:08:21,267 HAVE TO LET DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANDIDATES. 154 00:08:21,267 --> 00:08:24,737 WE HAVE CONTINUED TO GO DOWN TO THE SAME PATH, KEVIN, 155 00:08:24,737 --> 00:08:28,441 YOU'RE RIGHT. WE HAD CONTINUED TO ELECT 156 00:08:28,441 --> 00:08:30,977 FOLKS WITH EDUCATION EXPERIENCE, BUT THAT HASN'T 157 00:08:30,977 --> 00:08:32,945 WORKED. WE'VE NEVER ELECTED A STATE 158 00:08:32,945 --> 00:08:35,248 SUPERINTENDENT THAT HAS GOT LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE, AND I 159 00:08:35,248 --> 00:08:38,885 THINK THAT'S A MISTAKE. WE DO THAT FOR OUR GOVERNOR'S 160 00:08:38,885 --> 00:08:41,354 OFFICE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, WE DO THAT FOR OUR CONGRESSMEN 161 00:08:41,354 --> 00:08:44,156 AND SENATORS, BUT NEVER FOR A STATE SUPERINTENDENT. 162 00:08:44,156 --> 00:08:47,326 AND I THINK IT'S TIME WE TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND GET 163 00:08:47,326 --> 00:08:51,297 BETTER RESULTS AS A RESULT. "RUNAWAY" YOU SERVED IN THE 164 00:08:51,297 --> 00:08:53,866 LEGISLATURE AS A DEMOCRAT, YOU RAN FOR WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE 165 00:08:53,866 --> 00:08:57,270 IN 2016 AS A DEMOCRAT. YOU RAN FOR BOISE SCHOOL 166 00:08:57,270 --> 00:08:59,906 BOARD, A NONPARTISAN RACE IN 2018. 167 00:08:59,906 --> 00:09:01,774 NOW YOU'RE RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN FOR STATE 168 00:09:01,774 --> 00:09:04,844 SUPERINTENDENT. ARE YOU A POLITICAL GADFLY? 169 00:09:04,844 --> 00:09:06,913 >> Branden Durst: YOU CAN SEE THE VAST NUMBER OF 170 00:09:06,913 --> 00:09:10,883 ENDORSEMENTS I'VE HAD IN THIS CASE COME FROM THE 171 00:09:10,883 --> 00:09:12,184 CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS IN IDAHO. 172 00:09:12,184 --> 00:09:14,553 THEY DON'T HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MY FORMER PARTY AFFILIATION 173 00:09:14,553 --> 00:09:17,757 BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE AS A KARATE VOTED LIKE A 174 00:09:17,757 --> 00:09:19,959 REPUBLICAN. IN 2013, I WAS ONE OF THE MOST 175 00:09:19,959 --> 00:09:21,928 CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE STATE SENATE INCLUDING 176 00:09:21,928 --> 00:09:25,298 REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS. I'D RATHER HAVE BEEN A 177 00:09:25,298 --> 00:09:28,834 DEMOCRAT AND VOTED LIKE A REPUBLICAN THAN THE OTHER WAY 178 00:09:28,834 --> 00:09:30,269 AROUND. UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S THE BRAND 179 00:09:30,269 --> 00:09:33,239 OF REPUBLICANISM SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPORTING 180 00:09:33,239 --> 00:09:35,107 MS. CRITCHFIELD FOLLOW. SO THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE WE 181 00:09:35,107 --> 00:09:36,842 HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH. 182 00:09:36,842 --> 00:09:39,111 WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT. 183 00:09:39,111 --> 00:09:42,748 AND LOOK, AGAIN, LOOK WHO'S ENDORSED MY CAMPAIGN. 184 00:09:42,748 --> 00:09:44,951 SOME OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE GROUPS IN THE STATE OF IDAHO, 185 00:09:44,951 --> 00:09:46,919 SOME OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATORS IN THE STATE OF 186 00:09:46,919 --> 00:09:50,890 IDAHO. IN FACT, I JUST RECEIVED WORD 187 00:09:50,890 --> 00:09:53,326 THE ENDORSEMENT OF RIGHT TO LIFE OF IDAHO AS WELL BECAUSE 188 00:09:53,326 --> 00:10:02,868 OF MY 100% PRO-LIFE VOTING RECORD. 189 00:10:02,868 --> 00:10:05,938 I'VE GOT A CALL FOR SERVICE. I BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN CALLED 190 00:10:05,938 --> 00:10:08,774 TO SERVE IN A ROLE OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND CERTAINLY I RUN 191 00:10:08,774 --> 00:10:12,044 FOR OFFICE BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THERE'S A 192 00:10:12,044 --> 00:10:15,114 RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE AS CITIZENS TO STEP UP AND USE 193 00:10:15,114 --> 00:10:16,983 OUR GIFTS IN A WAY THAT ARE EFFECTIVE. 194 00:10:16,983 --> 00:10:19,285 AND I'M CHOOSING TO DO THAT VERY THING. 195 00:10:19,285 --> 00:10:21,887 I'M GIVING THE STATE OF IDAHO AND THE PEOPLE OF IDAHO AND 196 00:10:21,887 --> 00:10:24,290 ESPECIALLY THE CONSERVATIVES OF IDAHO A CHOICE WHERE THEY 197 00:10:24,290 --> 00:10:27,526 WOULDN'T HAVE ONE IF I WEREN'T RUNNING. 198 00:10:27,526 --> 00:10:29,395 THEY HAVE A CONSERVATIVE CHOICE NOW AND THEY CAN VOTE 199 00:10:29,395 --> 00:10:37,603 >> Kevin Richert: MRS. CRITCHF IELD, IN ONE KEY PIECE OF THE 200 00:10:37,603 --> 00:10:40,406 STATE BOARD'S AGENDA, THE SEVEN YEARS YOU WERE ON THE 201 00:10:40,406 --> 00:10:44,777 BOARD, WAS THE 60% POST-SECONDARY COMPLETION 202 00:10:44,777 --> 00:10:46,779 GOAL. THE STATE MADE LITTLE PROGRESS 203 00:10:46,779 --> 00:10:49,615 ON THAT GOAL, AND BASICALLY ABANDONED THE GOAL. 204 00:10:49,615 --> 00:10:55,521 GIVEN THAT KIND OF FAILURE ON THAT FRONT, HOW WOULD YOU 205 00:10:55,521 --> 00:10:59,759 ASSURE VOTERS THAT YOU CAN SET PRIORITIES AND SEE PRIORITIES 206 00:10:59,759 --> 00:11:03,396 THROUGH IF ELECTED STATE SUPERINTENDENT? 207 00:11:03,396 --> 00:11:05,031 >> Debbie Critchfield: THAT GOAL WAS SET PRIOR TO ME 208 00:11:05,031 --> 00:11:07,867 COMING ONTO THE BOARD AND IT BECAME PART OF A CONVERSATION 209 00:11:07,867 --> 00:11:10,403 THAT OUR BOARD HAS HAD FOR MANY YEARS. 210 00:11:10,403 --> 00:11:13,139 I BELIEVE THE FAILURE HAS BEEN IN THE K-12 ARENA. 211 00:11:13,139 --> 00:11:18,310 WHAT WE SEE IS STUDENTS CHOOSING OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES 212 00:11:18,310 --> 00:11:20,046 THE TRADITIONAL COLLEGE TRAJECTORY. 213 00:11:20,046 --> 00:11:23,449 AND THAT'S OKAY. WHAT WE NEED TO DO ARE 214 00:11:23,449 --> 00:11:25,718 CREATE -- TRANSFORM HOW WE HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL 215 00:11:25,718 --> 00:11:27,920 EXPERIENCE, HOW WE PROVIDE CREDIT. 216 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,222 IN OTHER WAYS, RATHER THAN THE TRADITIONAL WAYS. 217 00:11:30,222 --> 00:11:32,491 AND HOW WE PROVIDE THE RELEVANCY. 218 00:11:32,491 --> 00:11:37,229 AND SO AS WE LOOK TO MATCHING THE SKILLS, THE NEEDS, THE 219 00:11:37,229 --> 00:11:39,765 ABILITIES OF WHAT OUR STUDENTS WOULD LIKE TO DO, AND WHAT 220 00:11:39,765 --> 00:11:43,169 WE'RE CURRENT BELY DOING, WE SEE A TREMENDOUS MISMATCH. 221 00:11:43,169 --> 00:11:47,106 SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO ME AT ALL THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT 222 00:11:47,106 --> 00:11:49,842 NUMBER DECLINE, BECAUSE WE'VE NEEDED THE LEADERSHIP IN THE 223 00:11:49,842 --> 00:11:53,479 K-12 ARENA. AS YOU KNOW, THE BOARD IS A 224 00:11:53,479 --> 00:11:56,315 POLICY MAKING BOARD AND THE IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD HAVE 225 00:11:56,315 --> 00:11:58,884 FALLEN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. 226 00:11:58,884 --> 00:12:01,253 >> Kevin Richert: BUT THE STATE BOARDS CREATES POLICY AT 227 00:12:01,253 --> 00:12:03,923 THE K-12 LEVEL AS WELL AS THE HIGHER EDUCATION LEVEL. 228 00:12:03,923 --> 00:12:08,694 TO WHAT EXTENT DOES THE STATE BOARD OWN THE PROBLEMS AT THE 229 00:12:08,694 --> 00:12:11,230 K-12 LEVEL YOU'RE CITING? >> Debbie Critchfield: BECAUSE 230 00:12:11,230 --> 00:12:13,732 OF THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF THE BOARD, THERE IS A 231 00:12:13,732 --> 00:12:16,168 CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER THAT IS THERE TO IMPLEMENT, THAT IS 232 00:12:16,168 --> 00:12:19,171 THERE TO COME AND BRING IDEAS, AND THIS IS HOW WE NEED TO 233 00:12:19,171 --> 00:12:21,107 ADDRESS THAT. AND THAT WAS COMPLETELY 234 00:12:21,107 --> 00:12:24,844 MISSING OR LATE. >> Kevin Richert: SUPERINTENDE 235 00:12:24,844 --> 00:12:27,379 NT YBARRA, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME NUMBERS, BUT NOT ALL THE 236 00:12:27,379 --> 00:12:31,650 NUMBERS IN THE K-12 ARENA ARE AS ROSY. 237 00:12:31,650 --> 00:12:37,456 51% OF K-3 STUDENTS READ AT GRADE LEVEL. 238 00:12:37,456 --> 00:12:42,061 THE RATES HAVE FALLEN DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THE STATE 239 00:12:42,061 --> 00:12:45,564 HAS FAILED TO MEET MOST OF THE BENCHMARKS THE STATE 240 00:12:45,564 --> 00:12:50,302 ESTABLISHED UNDER THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT. 241 00:12:50,302 --> 00:12:53,272 GIVEN THOSE NUMBERS, WHY SHOULD VOTERS BELIEVE YOU 242 00:12:53,272 --> 00:12:56,909 WOULD HAVE MORE SUCCESS IN THE THIRD TERM THAN YOU'VE IN THE 243 00:12:56,909 --> 00:12:58,878 IN THE FIRST TWO? >> Sherri Ybarra: THOSE 244 00:12:58,878 --> 00:13:02,982 NUMBERS ARE NOT MY NUMBERS. THEY ARE A THIRD-PARTY'S 245 00:13:02,982 --> 00:13:04,350 NUMBERS THAT HAVE RANKED OUR STATE. 246 00:13:04,350 --> 00:13:08,621 AND THEY ARE ALL SOMETHING FOR IDAHOANS TO BE PROUD OF. 247 00:13:08,621 --> 00:13:11,490 I TRULY BELIEVE IDAHO IS LOOKING FOR THE BEST 248 00:13:11,490 --> 00:13:13,926 CANDIDATE, WHICH IS A PUBLIC EDUCATION CANDIDATE, NOT 249 00:13:13,926 --> 00:13:16,662 SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO STAND ON THE STAGE AND POKE TEACHERS 250 00:13:16,662 --> 00:13:20,399 AND BLAME THEM FOR ALL THE K-12 AILS OR SAY THEY SHOWED 251 00:13:20,399 --> 00:13:22,501 UP LATE TO THE PARTY AND OF COURSE THEY WERE A TEACHER, 252 00:13:22,501 --> 00:13:25,204 THEY'RE GETTING A DEGREE, AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES. 253 00:13:25,204 --> 00:13:29,074 I THINK IDAHO I WOULD CAUTION YOU TO BE VERY CAREFUL AS WE 254 00:13:29,074 --> 00:13:31,944 MOVE FORWARD, AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALREADY MADE THAT 255 00:13:31,944 --> 00:13:34,914 MISTAKE ONCE. OF HIRING SOMEONE THAT WASN'T 256 00:13:34,914 --> 00:13:38,417 A K-12 CERTIFIED CLASSROOM TEACHER WITH EDUCATIONAL 257 00:13:38,417 --> 00:13:41,153 EXPERIENCE. I BELIEVE IDAHOANS ARE LOOKING 258 00:13:41,153 --> 00:13:45,424 FOR A CONSERVATIVE LEADER THAT IS RESULTS ORIENTED. 259 00:13:45,424 --> 00:13:46,825 MY TRACK RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. 260 00:13:46,825 --> 00:13:48,394 YOU CANNOT ARGUE WITH THE NUMBERS. 261 00:13:48,394 --> 00:13:51,463 I THINK SOME OF THE NUMBERS YOU'RE QUOTING RELATE TO, I'VE 262 00:13:51,463 --> 00:13:54,466 HEARD MY OPPONENTS TRAVEL THE STATE AND SAY, 60% OF OUR 263 00:13:54,466 --> 00:13:56,435 FIRST GRADERS ARE NOT READING ON GRADE LEVEL. 264 00:13:56,435 --> 00:14:00,706 WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE. THEY'RE QUOTING ACTUALLY WHAT 265 00:14:00,706 --> 00:14:03,742 THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH IS WHEN OUR STUDENTS ARE TAKING THE 266 00:14:03,742 --> 00:14:07,713 IDAHO READING INDICATOR, THEY'RE COMING IN TO THAT 267 00:14:07,713 --> 00:14:10,216 GRADE LEVEL MAYBE AT THAT LEVEL, AND THEN THEY'RE 268 00:14:10,216 --> 00:14:14,019 LEARNING TO READ AND LEAVING THAT GRADE LEVEL 60% ON GRADE 269 00:14:14,019 --> 00:14:16,188 LEVEL. SO IDAHO HAS A LOT TO BE PROUD 270 00:14:16,188 --> 00:14:17,923 OF. THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY KEEPS 271 00:14:17,923 --> 00:14:20,926 MOVING TO IDAHO, I DON'T THINK ANYONE BELIEVES FOR ONE SPLIT 272 00:14:20,926 --> 00:14:23,429 SECOND THAT OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS BROKEN. 273 00:14:23,429 --> 00:14:26,098 NOW, DO WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO? 274 00:14:26,098 --> 00:14:28,934 ABSOLUTELY WE DO. AND WE FOUND OUT DURING THE 275 00:14:28,934 --> 00:14:32,004 PANDEMIC THAT OUR -- SOME OF OUR LEARNERS THAT HAD ALREADY 276 00:14:32,004 --> 00:14:33,973 HAD SOME OF THOSE GAPS STILL NEED WORK. 277 00:14:33,973 --> 00:14:36,942 THAT'S OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, OUR STUDENTS WITH 278 00:14:36,942 --> 00:14:39,378 DISABILITIES, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SEEING ANOTHER TERM. 279 00:14:39,378 --> 00:14:41,914 BECAUSE I KNOW THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED, TO 280 00:14:41,914 --> 00:14:44,316 HELP OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE. >> Kevin Richert: QUICKLY, 281 00:14:44,316 --> 00:14:48,153 JUST A FOLLOW-UP, THE FIFTH IN THE NATION RANKING YOU CITE, 282 00:14:48,153 --> 00:14:52,191 IT'S A 2018 U.S. NEWS AND WORLD RECORD ARTICLE, OR 283 00:14:52,191 --> 00:14:56,161 STUDY, THAT REALLY MEASURES HOW MANY STUDENTS TOOK THE 284 00:14:56,161 --> 00:14:57,796 SAT. AND STUDENTS IN IDAHO CAN TAKE 285 00:14:57,796 --> 00:15:02,167 THE SAT FOR FREE. AREN'T YOU CHERRY PICKING THE 286 00:15:02,167 --> 00:15:03,102 NUMBERS? >> Sherri Ybarra: ABSOLUTELY 287 00:15:03,102 --> 00:15:03,836 NOT. THOSE ARE OUR NUMBERS. 288 00:15:03,836 --> 00:15:06,205 FROM A THIRD PARTY. THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE. 289 00:15:06,205 --> 00:15:07,640 THEY'RE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY. 290 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,209 FIFTH IN THE NATION. THRIFERS TO 17th IN THE 291 00:15:10,209 --> 00:15:12,878 NATION FOR ACHIEVEMENT. NUMBER ONE FOR COLLEGE CREDITS 292 00:15:12,878 --> 00:15:15,914 EARNED WHILE STILL IN WHOM. AND OUR STUDENTS DESERVE TO 293 00:15:15,914 --> 00:15:19,518 HEAR HOW GREAT THEY'RE DOING AND OUR EDUCATORS DESERVE TO 294 00:15:19,518 --> 00:15:22,087 HEAR THAT TOO. I'LL SHARE ANOTHER PIECE OF 295 00:15:22,087 --> 00:15:24,590 INFORMATION, I'M SUPER EXCITED TO TELL IDAHOANS ABOUT 296 00:15:24,590 --> 00:15:27,226 TONIGHT, THE FACT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY ABOUT A MONTH AGO 297 00:15:27,226 --> 00:15:30,963 TO SIT AROUND THE TABLE AND LISTEN TO SOME OF OUR RESULTS 298 00:15:30,963 --> 00:15:34,667 DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND OUR KIDS WERE OUTPERFORMING NEARLY 299 00:15:34,667 --> 00:15:39,972 MOST OF OUR PEERS IN OTHER STATES, OR OUR SLIDEBACKS WERE 300 00:15:39,972 --> 00:15:42,241 NOT NEARLY AS MINIMAL DURING THE PANDEMIC. 301 00:15:42,241 --> 00:15:44,343 WHY? BECAUSE OUR SCHOOLS WERE OPEN 302 00:15:44,343 --> 00:15:47,446 UNLIKE THE REST OF THE NATION. OF COURSE WE SAW A SMALL 303 00:15:47,446 --> 00:15:50,616 CLOSURE, BUT THAT'S WHY I RAN MY IN-PERSON LEARNING BILL. 304 00:15:50,616 --> 00:15:53,919 TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS DIDN'T CLOSE AGAIN, AND TO 305 00:15:53,919 --> 00:15:56,989 MAKE SURE THAT IN-PERSON LEARNING WAS THE NUMBER ONE 306 00:15:56,989 --> 00:15:58,857 OPTION FOR OUR PARENTS AND OUR STUDENTS. 307 00:15:58,857 --> 00:16:01,327 AND IT WORKED. IT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON 308 00:16:01,327 --> 00:16:04,830 THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON, LIKE CLOSE THOSE 309 00:16:04,830 --> 00:16:07,232 ACHIEVEMENT GAPS FOR OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, FOR 310 00:16:07,232 --> 00:16:09,635 OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE ARE ALL 311 00:16:09,635 --> 00:16:11,870 THE THINGS AS A STATE SUPERINTENDENT AND A FORMER 312 00:16:11,870 --> 00:16:15,107 CLASSROOM TEACHER THAT I HAVE THE EXPERTISE IN IN MOVING OUR 313 00:16:15,107 --> 00:16:17,543 STATE FORWARD, AND I WANT TO BE WITH IDAHOANS WHEN WE MAKE 314 00:16:17,543 --> 00:16:20,279 IT TO TOP 10 IN THE NATION. I'VE DONE THE JOB IDAHOANS 315 00:16:20,279 --> 00:16:24,450 HAVE ASKED ME TO DO, AND I I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF 316 00:16:24,450 --> 00:16:26,185 SUCCESS. >> Aaron Kunz: THANK YOU VERY 317 00:16:26,185 --> 00:16:27,953 MUCH. NOW IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON, OUR 318 00:16:27,953 --> 00:16:30,723 NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM BETSY AND YOU'LL BE ADDRESSING 319 00:16:30,723 --> 00:16:32,858 SENATOR DURST. >> Betsy Russell: SENATOR 320 00:16:32,858 --> 00:16:36,562 DURST, LET'S TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE. 321 00:16:36,562 --> 00:16:39,531 THIS SESSION YOU PRESENTED A PARENTAL RIGHTS BILL YOU 322 00:16:39,531 --> 00:16:42,034 COULDN'T EVEN GET PRINTED IN THE SENATE EDUCATION 323 00:16:42,034 --> 00:16:44,803 COMMITTEE. AND AFTERWARDS YOU BECAME 324 00:16:44,803 --> 00:16:48,207 ENGAGED IN A HEATED AND PROFANE EXCHANGE WITH ONE OF 325 00:16:48,207 --> 00:16:50,943 THE SENATE REPUBLICANS WHO OPPOSED THE BILL THAT YOU HAD 326 00:16:50,943 --> 00:16:53,912 PROPOSED. BASED ON THIS EPISODE, HOW CAN 327 00:16:53,912 --> 00:16:57,116 YOUR SUPPORTERS HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE THAT YOU CAN 328 00:16:57,116 --> 00:17:02,821 EFFECTIVELY GET THINGS DONE AT THE STATE HOUSE? 329 00:17:02,821 --> 00:17:09,194 >> Debbie Critchfield: DROIG >> Branden Durst: THE TWO 330 00:17:09,194 --> 00:17:11,330 SENATORS THAT -- SUPPORT DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD, IF THAT 331 00:17:11,330 --> 00:17:14,433 SHARES YOUR VISION WE COULD BE RUNNING FOR THE HILLS. 332 00:17:14,433 --> 00:17:18,637 THE REALITY IS, I -- THOSE TWO SENATORS PUT POLITICS IN FRONT 333 00:17:18,637 --> 00:17:21,240 OF PARENTS. AND THAT'S WRONG. 334 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,343 YES, I GOT DEFENSIVE BECAUS I TRUST PARENTS AND I'M A 335 00:17:24,343 --> 00:17:26,478 DEFENDER OF PARENTS. AND I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE 336 00:17:26,478 --> 00:17:28,747 FOR THAT. I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR 337 00:17:28,747 --> 00:17:31,817 TRYING TO FIGHT FOR PARENTS BECAUSE THEY NEED IT. 338 00:17:31,817 --> 00:17:33,886 THEY'VE LIVED THROUGH TWO YEARS OF A PANDEMIC WHERE 339 00:17:33,886 --> 00:17:37,189 THEIR CHILDREN WERE FORCED TO STAY HOME, WHERE THEY COULDN'T 340 00:17:37,189 --> 00:17:39,291 CHOOSE WHETHER THEIR CHILDREN WERE MASKED BECAUSE OF THE 341 00:17:39,291 --> 00:17:40,959 POLICIES OF THE LADIES ON THE STAGE. 342 00:17:40,959 --> 00:17:43,028 THAT WAS WRONG. AND I WAS TRYING TO DO 343 00:17:43,028 --> 00:17:45,364 SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WE'RE HOPEFUL THOSE TWO 344 00:17:45,364 --> 00:17:47,332 SENATORS WILL FIND A DIFFERENT PLACE TO WORK NEXT YEAR. 345 00:17:47,332 --> 00:17:49,868 AND THEY WON'T BE IN THE CAPITOL BUILDING. 346 00:17:49,868 --> 00:17:53,839 YOU CAN LOOK NO FURTHER THAN MY TRACK RECORD OF HAVING GET 347 00:17:53,839 --> 00:17:55,908 LEGISLATION PASSED. THE ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES 348 00:17:55,908 --> 00:17:59,244 PROGRAM STARTED UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, UNDER MY WRITING 349 00:17:59,244 --> 00:18:01,346 OF THAT BILL. THAT'S WHAT STARTED WITH IT. 350 00:18:01,346 --> 00:18:07,486 IT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. YET IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY 351 00:18:07,486 --> 00:18:09,888 SUCCESSFUL. THE NO PUBLIC FUNDS FOR 352 00:18:09,888 --> 00:18:13,525 ABORTION ACT, I LED THE FIGHT ON THAT AND HELPED DRAFT IT. 353 00:18:13,525 --> 00:18:16,495 SO THERE'S PLENTY OF EXAMPLES OF THINGS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO 354 00:18:16,495 --> 00:18:18,363 ACCOMPLISH. BUT WE NEED A FIGHTER FOR 355 00:18:18,363 --> 00:18:20,199 PARENTS. IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY THAT'S 356 00:18:20,199 --> 00:18:22,401 GOING TO BE MILK TOAST AND TAKE IT, I WANT TO POINT OUT 357 00:18:22,401 --> 00:18:24,536 THERE'S NO PROFANITY FROM ME, BY THE WAY. 358 00:18:24,536 --> 00:18:27,606 IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO BE MILK TOAST AND NOT 359 00:18:27,606 --> 00:18:29,875 FIGHT, I'M NOT YOUR GUY. BUT IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO 360 00:18:29,875 --> 00:18:33,679 FIGHT FOR YOU AS A PARENT, I'M THE CANDIDATE FOR YOU. 361 00:18:33,679 --> 00:18:36,014 >> CAN I RESPOND TO THAT? THERE WAS PROFANITY. 362 00:18:36,014 --> 00:18:39,184 I WAS IN THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE THAT DAY, AND THERE 363 00:18:39,184 --> 00:18:42,521 ABSOLUTELY WAS PROA FANCY. >> Branden Durst: BY SENATOR 364 00:18:42,521 --> 00:18:44,022 -- >> BY MY OPPONENT. 365 00:18:44,022 --> 00:18:47,092 >> Branden Durst: YOU CAN SAY THAT NOW, BUT PEOPLE WHO KNOW 366 00:18:47,092 --> 00:18:49,661 ME KNOW I DON'T CURSE. THAT'S FINE. 367 00:18:49,661 --> 00:18:52,598 THE REALITY, SENATOR WOODWARD AND CRABTREE BOTH ENGAGED IN 368 00:18:52,598 --> 00:18:56,468 WHAT SHOULD BE DESPICABLE BEHAVIOR BUT SENATE LEADERSHIP 369 00:18:56,468 --> 00:18:58,470 SWEPT THAT UNDER THE RUG. WE NEED A CHANGE IN 370 00:18:58,470 --> 00:19:03,408 LEADERSHIP. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. 371 00:19:03,408 --> 00:19:04,843 >> Debbie Critchfield: I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND. 372 00:19:04,843 --> 00:19:08,013 I THINK IT'S A POOR EXCUSE TO BLAME PEOPLE FOR POOR 373 00:19:08,013 --> 00:19:11,884 LEGISLATION. I'M A PARENT OF -- FOR 374 00:19:11,884 --> 00:19:13,452 MR. DURST, HE'S CLAIMED I'M A PARENT. 375 00:19:13,452 --> 00:19:15,420 SO AM I. I'M A GRANDPARENT. 376 00:19:15,420 --> 00:19:18,790 AND SO THERE'S NO OWNERSHIP ABOUT WHO THE PARENT IN THIS 377 00:19:18,790 --> 00:19:23,762 RACE. AND THE INTERACTIONS WERE AND 378 00:19:23,762 --> 00:19:27,599 ARE UNBECOMING OF SOMEONE THAT WOULD HOLD THAT OFFICE. 379 00:19:27,599 --> 00:19:29,801 AND I DON'T BELIEVE MR. DURST ANSWERED THE QUESTION. 380 00:19:29,801 --> 00:19:31,670 YOU SAID HOW WILL YOU OVERCOME THAT? 381 00:19:31,670 --> 00:19:34,706 HIS ANSWER WAS, I'M GOING TO WORK TO GET RID OF THE PEOPLE 382 00:19:34,706 --> 00:19:36,675 WHO DON'T LIKE ME. I'M GOING TO WORK TO GET RID 383 00:19:36,675 --> 00:19:38,477 OF THE PEOPLE WHO WON'T SUPPORT MY LEGISLATION. 384 00:19:38,477 --> 00:19:40,879 AND THEN HE TOUTED LEGISLATION THAT HE HAD. 385 00:19:40,879 --> 00:19:44,616 I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING THAT WOULD EXHIBIT ANY TYPE OF 386 00:19:44,616 --> 00:19:47,920 FACILITATION OF LEADERSHIP, COOPERATION, WHICH IS WHAT'S 387 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:49,955 NEEDED IN THE LEGISLATURE IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THESE 388 00:19:49,955 --> 00:19:53,992 THINGS. >> Betsy Russell: SENATOR 389 00:19:53,992 --> 00:19:56,828 DURST YOU SAID YOU DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR BEHAVIOR. 390 00:19:56,828 --> 00:20:00,566 THE ENTIRE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP PUBLICLY CRITICIZED 391 00:20:00,566 --> 00:20:04,102 YOUR BEHAVIOR, CONDEMNED IT, AND CALLED IT, QUOTE, 392 00:20:04,102 --> 00:20:07,306 EGREGIOUS CONDUCT UNBECOMING OF ANYONE, ESPECIALLY A FORMER 393 00:20:07,306 --> 00:20:10,008 LEGISLATURE AND CURRENT STATEWIDE POLITICAL CANDIDATE. 394 00:20:10,008 --> 00:20:14,580 CAN YOU WORK WITH LAWMAKERS AFTER THAT? 395 00:20:14,580 --> 00:20:19,484 >> Branden Durst: LET'S LOOK AT WHO THE MESSENGER IS. 396 00:20:19,484 --> 00:20:21,486 >> Betsy Russell: THE ENTIRE SENATE LEADERSHIP. 397 00:20:21,486 --> 00:20:24,856 >> Branden Durst: THEY STOPPED A BILL THIS SESSION TO PROTECT 398 00:20:24,856 --> 00:20:26,091 PARENTS FROM PORNOGRAPHY IN SCHOOLS. 399 00:20:26,091 --> 00:20:27,693 THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE COMING AFTER ME. 400 00:20:27,693 --> 00:20:29,962 IF YOU CARE WHAT THEY THINK, THAT'S GREAT. 401 00:20:29,962 --> 00:20:31,964 BUT I DON'T. I BELIEVE WE NEED TOE FIGHT 402 00:20:31,964 --> 00:20:34,733 FOR PARENTS, TO PROTECT KIDS, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER 403 00:20:34,733 --> 00:20:37,202 OR NOT A SENATOR IS UPSET WITH ME OR NOT. 404 00:20:37,202 --> 00:20:39,605 BUT I WOULD POINT OUT -- I DID ANSWER THE QUESTION. 405 00:20:39,605 --> 00:20:42,574 WE'VE GOTTEN MAJOR LEGISLATION PASSED WITH MY LEADERSHIP. 406 00:20:42,574 --> 00:20:45,344 NOT JUST WHILE I WAS A LEGISLATOR, BUT WHILE I WAS A 407 00:20:45,344 --> 00:20:48,947 PRIVATE CITIZEN. AND THE FACT THAT THAT'S BEING 408 00:20:48,947 --> 00:20:51,283 IGNORED BY MY OPPONENTS IS FINE. 409 00:20:51,283 --> 00:20:53,151 BUT AT THE END OF THE TAKE-AWAY WE HAVE TO ASK 410 00:20:53,151 --> 00:20:55,988 OURSELVES, ARE WE WILLING TO BE FRIENDLY WITH THOSE WHO 411 00:20:55,988 --> 00:20:58,523 FIGHT AGAINST FREEDOM? THOSE WHO FIGHT AGAINST 412 00:20:58,523 --> 00:21:00,292 PARENTAL RIGHTS? THOSE WHO DON'T BELIEVE THAT 413 00:21:00,292 --> 00:21:03,061 CHILDREN SHOULD BE KEPT FROM PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, THAT'S 414 00:21:03,061 --> 00:21:06,131 THE QUESTION. AND I'M JUST FINE WITH 415 00:21:06,131 --> 00:21:08,900 BEING -- I'M COMFORTABLE BEING THE PERSON WHO STANDS UP HERE 416 00:21:08,900 --> 00:21:12,170 TODAY AND SAYS NO, I'M NOT WILLING TO BE IN BED WITH 417 00:21:12,170 --> 00:21:14,139 THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. 418 00:21:14,139 --> 00:21:16,008 I BELIEVE OUR PARENTS DESERVE BETTER. 419 00:21:16,008 --> 00:21:19,044 AND I BELIEVE OUR STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER. 420 00:21:19,044 --> 00:21:20,412 >> Betsy Russell: MARTIN SCORSESE CRITCHFIELD, PLEASE 421 00:21:20,412 --> 00:21:21,747 TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE. 422 00:21:21,747 --> 00:21:23,849 HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE? 423 00:21:23,849 --> 00:21:25,851 >> Debbie Critchfield: EXACTLY HOW I HAVE BEEN. 424 00:21:25,851 --> 00:21:28,487 PARTICULARLY FOR TWO YEARS AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD. 425 00:21:28,487 --> 00:21:33,925 AND I WANT TO POINT THIS OUT. BRANDEN, I DON'T KNOW ANY 426 00:21:33,925 --> 00:21:36,128 PERSON WHO BELIEVES PORNOGRAPHY SHOULD BE IN A 427 00:21:36,128 --> 00:21:39,398 SCHOOL. YOU GO ASK. 428 00:21:39,398 --> 00:21:42,234 IT WAS FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT WAS POOR LEGISLATION. 429 00:21:42,234 --> 00:21:43,669 SO REFINE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO. 430 00:21:43,669 --> 00:21:47,272 THERE WERE A NUMBER OF BILLS TO SUPPORT THESE TYPES OF 431 00:21:47,272 --> 00:21:50,676 THINGS. THE PROCESS IS DESIGNED TO GET 432 00:21:50,676 --> 00:21:55,981 THROUGH ALL 105 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THEN SIGNED BY 433 00:21:55,981 --> 00:21:57,783 THE GOVERNOR. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF 434 00:21:57,783 --> 00:21:59,951 BILLS. I'LL GO ON TO THIS. 435 00:21:59,951 --> 00:22:02,988 SO WE HAVE GOT TO, AND I BELIEVE AS A STATE 436 00:22:02,988 --> 00:22:06,591 SUPERINTENDENT, ONE OF MY -- ONE OF THE PRIORITIES I HAVE 437 00:22:06,591 --> 00:22:10,662 IS TO REESTABLISH US WITH OUR LEGISLATURE. 438 00:22:10,662 --> 00:22:13,999 I BELIEVE THEY HAVE NOT HAD TRUST IN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL 439 00:22:13,999 --> 00:22:19,504 OFFICER, AND THAT'S EXHIBITED BY ALL SORTS OF THINGS. 440 00:22:19,504 --> 00:22:22,507 AND OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS I'VE CREATED THE 441 00:22:22,507 --> 00:22:25,343 RELATIONSHIPS, I HAVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHO 442 00:22:25,343 --> 00:22:28,213 DON'T SUPPORT ME BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO AS AN 443 00:22:28,213 --> 00:22:29,614 ADULT. YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK 444 00:22:29,614 --> 00:22:32,851 WITH PEOPLE, WHERE THE COMMON GROUND IS, WHAT ARE THE 445 00:22:32,851 --> 00:22:34,820 OUTCOMES, WHAT ARE THE GOALS WE'RE TRYING TO MEET, AND HOW 446 00:22:34,820 --> 00:22:37,456 DO WE TAKE ALL THOSE IN? IT'S NOT JUST THE LEGISLATURE. 447 00:22:37,456 --> 00:22:41,293 BUT IT'S OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. AND HOW YOU DO THAT IS 448 00:22:41,293 --> 00:22:45,530 CRITICAL TO THE ADVOCACY AND HOW WE CHAMPION FROM THE TOP 449 00:22:45,530 --> 00:22:48,567 FOR OUR PARENTS, FOR OUR KIDS, FOR OUR TEACHERS, OUR 450 00:22:48,567 --> 00:22:50,035 COMMUNITIES. >> Betsy Russell: SUPERINTENDE 451 00:22:50,035 --> 00:22:52,571 NT YBARRA, ON WORKING ARE THE LEGISLATURE, YOU HAVE BEEN IN 452 00:22:52,571 --> 00:22:55,774 OFFICE FOR SEVEN YEARS, CAN YOU POINT TO A LEGISLATIVE 453 00:22:55,774 --> 00:22:58,343 INITIATIVE, PURELY YOUR OWN, NOT A GUBERNATORIAL 454 00:22:58,343 --> 00:23:01,279 INITIATIVE, THAT YOU HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH BOTH HOUSES? 455 00:23:01,279 --> 00:23:04,616 >> Sherri Ybarra: ABSOLUTELY. MY IN-PERSON LEARNING BILL GOT 456 00:23:04,616 --> 00:23:07,919 THROUGH BOTH HOUSES. MASTERY-BASED EDUCATION, 457 00:23:07,919 --> 00:23:12,090 CIVICS RESOLUTION. I HAVE GOTTEN OVER 200 -- THIS 458 00:23:12,090 --> 00:23:14,159 YEAR, THE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS, MY TRACK RECORD 459 00:23:14,159 --> 00:23:18,997 SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, OVER 200 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE 460 00:23:18,997 --> 00:23:21,633 GENERAL FUND FOR EDUCATION IN IDAHO THIS YEAR WAS 461 00:23:21,633 --> 00:23:24,503 SPECTACULAR. AND I HAD A GROUP OF 462 00:23:24,503 --> 00:23:27,239 LEGISLATORS STANDING ON THE STEPS OF THE CAPITOL WHEN WE 463 00:23:27,239 --> 00:23:31,409 MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TOGETHER AS A TEAM, THAT WE FINALLY GOT 464 00:23:31,409 --> 00:23:33,945 RID OF THE COMMON CORE IN IDAHO LIKE THE VOTERS OF IDAHO 465 00:23:33,945 --> 00:23:36,915 HAVE ASKED ME TO DO. WE DID THAT WHEN I FIRST TOOK 466 00:23:36,915 --> 00:23:40,318 OFFICE, WE HAD AN IDAHO STANDARDS CHALLENGE. 467 00:23:40,318 --> 00:23:43,054 BUT AGAIN, THE VOTERS WERE STILL NOT HAPPY AND IT WAS 468 00:23:43,054 --> 00:23:47,159 TIME TO LOOK AT THOSE AGAIN, AND AGAIN WE HAD LOTS OF 469 00:23:47,159 --> 00:23:49,594 EDUCATORS AND STAKEHOLDERS WORKING ON THAT GROUP. 470 00:23:49,594 --> 00:23:55,033 AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT MOMENT IN TIME, AND PROVES THAT I DO 471 00:23:55,033 --> 00:23:57,536 GET THE JOB DONE. UNFORTUNATELY MY OPPONENTS ARE 472 00:23:57,536 --> 00:24:00,105 SHOWING UP AND THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH 473 00:24:00,105 --> 00:24:02,307 EDUCATION, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE 474 00:24:02,307 --> 00:24:04,543 LEADERSHIP IN ORDER FOR THEM TO PROVE THEY'RE ONE OF THE 475 00:24:04,543 --> 00:24:08,446 BEST CANDIDATES ON THE STAGE. WITH NO TRACK RECORD, NO 476 00:24:08,446 --> 00:24:10,882 EXPERIENCE, AND NO CERTIFICATION. 477 00:24:10,882 --> 00:24:15,120 AND IDAHO'S CLASSROOMS, YOU WILL FINALLY SEE AT THE END OF 478 00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:16,788 THIS DEBATE WHY THEY'RE GOING DOWN THAT PATH. 479 00:24:16,788 --> 00:24:21,626 BUT I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS. 480 00:24:21,626 --> 00:24:22,894 >> Aaron Kunz: BETSY, FOLLOW-UP? 481 00:24:22,894 --> 00:24:29,734 >> Betsy Russell: NO. ACHE JAKOB? 482 00:24:29,734 --> 00:24:31,937 >> Jakob Thorington: SENATOR DURST, YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU 483 00:24:31,937 --> 00:24:35,507 OPPOSE THE INCREASED LITERACY BUDGET AND ALL-DAY 484 00:24:35,507 --> 00:24:43,515 KINDERGARTEN LAW THAT PASSED IN THE LEGIN THE LEGISLATIVE SED 485 00:24:43,515 --> 00:24:45,383 YOU NO LONGER SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. 486 00:24:45,383 --> 00:24:49,721 WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS EARLY LITERACY? 487 00:24:49,721 --> 00:24:51,623 >> Branden Durst: ONE OF THE REASONS I OPPOSED THE BILL HAS 488 00:24:51,623 --> 00:24:54,159 COME TO FRUITION. WHICH IS THAT NOW PARENTS ARE 489 00:24:54,159 --> 00:24:56,061 BEING FORCED TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO FULL-DAY 490 00:24:56,061 --> 00:24:57,462 KINDERGARTEN WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO. 491 00:24:57,462 --> 00:25:01,399 I THOUGHT -- THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I PREDICTED WOULD HAPPEN. 492 00:25:01,399 --> 00:25:02,901 AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 493 00:25:02,901 --> 00:25:06,538 WHAT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE DONE AND WHAT I SUPPORTED WAS 494 00:25:06,538 --> 00:25:08,740 PUTTING MONEY IN THE HANDS OF PARENTS SO THEY COULD MAKE A 495 00:25:08,740 --> 00:25:10,809 DECISION AS TO WHETHER CHILDREN WENT TO SCHOOL AND 496 00:25:10,809 --> 00:25:13,345 FOR HOW LONG. THAT WILL -- THAT'S NOT JUST 497 00:25:13,345 --> 00:25:16,848 ABOUT THE KINDERGARTEN, THAT'S ALSO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS 498 00:25:16,848 --> 00:25:18,717 THROUGHOUT THEIR K-12 EXPERIENCE. 499 00:25:18,717 --> 00:25:21,419 I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO TRUSTING PARENTS AGAIN. 500 00:25:21,419 --> 00:25:24,689 AND PART OF TRUSTING PARENTS IS TRUSTING THEM WITH THE 501 00:25:24,689 --> 00:25:27,392 RESOURCES TO DECIDE WHERE THEY'RE CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL. 502 00:25:27,392 --> 00:25:30,762 A CHILD AND A PARENT SHOULDN'T BE STUCK ON THE SCHOOL THAT'S 503 00:25:30,762 --> 00:25:33,431 ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR ZIP CODE OR THE SIZE OF THEIR BANK 504 00:25:33,431 --> 00:25:34,532 ACCOUNT. PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO 505 00:25:34,532 --> 00:25:37,636 CHOOSE ANY SCHOOL THAT FITS THEIR CHILDREN'S NEEDS, NOT 506 00:25:37,636 --> 00:25:40,105 JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO OTHERWISE. 507 00:25:40,105 --> 00:25:44,442 AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE IS ABOUT 508 00:25:44,442 --> 00:25:47,579 TONIGHT AND ON MAY 17th, IF WE WANT MORE OF THE SAME. 509 00:25:47,579 --> 00:25:49,547 DO WE WANT TO GO SOMEPLACE DIFFERENT? 510 00:25:49,547 --> 00:25:50,782 DO WE WANT DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS? 511 00:25:50,782 --> 00:25:55,287 IF WE DO, WE NEED TO FIND A DIFFERENT KIND OF PERSON, 512 00:25:55,287 --> 00:25:57,389 SOMEONE WHO WILL FIGHT FOR PARENTS, THE NEEDS OF 513 00:25:57,389 --> 00:26:00,792 STUDENTS. AND NOT JUST SAY AND SPOUT OFF 514 00:26:00,792 --> 00:26:02,894 NUMBERS THAT SAY HOW GREAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE. 515 00:26:02,894 --> 00:26:05,830 IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD REELECT SUPERINTENDENT 516 00:26:05,830 --> 00:26:07,832 YBARRA. AS A PARENT, I DON'T SEE IT. 517 00:26:07,832 --> 00:26:10,835 I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THOUSANDS OF PARENTS THROUGHOUT IDAHO 518 00:26:10,835 --> 00:26:13,471 WHO DON'T BELIEVE IT EITHER. WE NEED CONSERVATIVE 519 00:26:13,471 --> 00:26:18,376 LEADERSHIP AND THAT'S WHAT I'M >> Jakob Thorington: MRS. CRIT 520 00:26:18,376 --> 00:26:20,478 CHFIELD, ABOUT 40% OF KINDERGARTENERS SCORED AT 521 00:26:20,478 --> 00:26:24,516 GRADE LEVEL IN THE FALL 2021, IDAHO INDICATOR. 522 00:26:24,516 --> 00:26:27,252 ARE THE STATE'S CHRONICALLY LOW FALL KINDERGARTEN READING 523 00:26:27,252 --> 00:26:30,588 SCORES A CONCERN FOR YOU, AND IF THEY ARE, HOW WOULD YOU 524 00:26:30,588 --> 00:26:33,558 ADDRESS THEM AND IF THEY ARE NOT CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY? 525 00:26:33,558 --> 00:26:35,727 >> Debbie Critchfield: I ABSOLUTELY DO BELIEVE IT IS A 526 00:26:35,727 --> 00:26:39,097 CONCERN, AND IT IS AN AREA THAT WE NEED ATTENTION TO. 527 00:26:39,097 --> 00:26:41,700 AND HOW WE SUPPORT WHAT PARENTS ARE DOING AT HOME. 528 00:26:41,700 --> 00:26:44,736 AND I WANT TO CORRECT SOMETHING THAT MR. DURST SAID. 529 00:26:44,736 --> 00:26:48,473 THERE'S NO LAW THAT COMPELS A PARENT TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO 530 00:26:48,473 --> 00:26:50,342 FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN. IT IS STILL A PARENT'S CHOICE. 531 00:26:50,342 --> 00:26:53,511 IN FACT, THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR FIRST 532 00:26:53,511 --> 00:26:55,413 GRADE. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO SEND 533 00:26:55,413 --> 00:26:57,849 YOUR CHILD TO KINDERGARTEN IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO DO 534 00:26:57,849 --> 00:27:00,285 FULL-DAY. AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW WE 535 00:27:00,285 --> 00:27:03,154 PREPARE OUR STUDENTS, IT ABSOLUTELY HAS TO TAKE IN HOW 536 00:27:03,154 --> 00:27:06,491 WE HELP THEM AT THE EARLIEST LEVELS, HOW WE HELP SUPPORT 537 00:27:06,491 --> 00:27:08,994 WHAT PARENTS ARE DOING IN THE EDUCATION THAT'S TAKING PLACE, 538 00:27:08,994 --> 00:27:11,696 WHETHER IT'S AT HOME OR IN DAYCARES OR CHURCHES, OR IN 539 00:27:11,696 --> 00:27:14,399 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. AND THAT'S WHAT THE EARLY 540 00:27:14,399 --> 00:27:17,268 LEARNING WAS DESIGNED TO DO. IT WAS DESIGNED TO PUT BOOKS 541 00:27:17,268 --> 00:27:21,673 INTO THE HANDS OF PARENTS THAT WERE CHOSEN BY CHURCHES, BY 542 00:27:21,673 --> 00:27:24,542 LIBRARIES, BY HOSPITALS. AND BOARDS THAT WORK TOGETHER. 543 00:27:24,542 --> 00:27:27,512 THIS -- IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL THROUGHOUT THE 544 00:27:27,512 --> 00:27:30,115 EDUCATIONAL SPECTRUM AND GET OUR KIDS READING AT THIRD 545 00:27:30,115 --> 00:27:33,485 GRADE, WHICH I KNOW IS THIS AGE WHICH CAN I THINK IS TOO 546 00:27:33,485 --> 00:27:37,322 LATE AND TOO NARROW, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO FOCUS ON 547 00:27:37,322 --> 00:27:45,964 THAT EARLY PREPARATION AND HOW WE SUPPORT PARENTS IN THAT. 548 00:27:45,964 --> 00:27:47,265 >> Branden Durst: WHEN MRS. CRITCHFIELD SAYS IT'S NOT 549 00:27:47,265 --> 00:27:50,668 A REQUIREMENT, SHE MAY BE CORRECT, BUT THAT'S LIKE HER 550 00:27:50,668 --> 00:27:52,170 SAYING PARENTS ALREADY HAVE CHOICE IN SCHOOL WHEN THEY 551 00:27:52,170 --> 00:27:54,773 DON'T. IF YOU'RE IN THE WEST ADA 552 00:27:54,773 --> 00:27:57,509 SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE BOISE SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOUR NEXT 553 00:27:57,509 --> 00:28:00,078 FALL RIGHT NOW THE PLAN IS IF YOU DON'T GO TO FULL-DAY 554 00:28:00,078 --> 00:28:02,147 KINDERGARTEN, YOU DON'T GET TO GO TO KINDERGARTEN AT ALL. 555 00:28:02,147 --> 00:28:04,416 THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FACT 556 00:28:04,416 --> 00:28:10,488 THAT HALF-DAY PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN LARGELY ELIMINATED. 557 00:28:10,488 --> 00:28:13,091 BE. THAT'S WHY WE NEED SOME POLICY 558 00:28:13,091 --> 00:28:16,061 BACKGROUND THAT CAN SEE THE HOLES AND UNINTENDED 559 00:28:16,061 --> 00:28:18,863 CONSEQUENCES OF SOME OF THE THINGS WILL HAPPEN WHEN 560 00:28:18,863 --> 00:28:24,002 LEGISLATION IS PROPOSED. >> Sherri Ybarra: IF I MAY 561 00:28:24,002 --> 00:28:27,806 CORRECT BOTH OPPONENTS, THAT NEW LEGISLATION IS OPTIONAL 562 00:28:27,806 --> 00:28:31,409 FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN. I BELIEVE IZZAT IBRAHIM 563 00:28:31,409 --> 00:28:33,545 AL-DOURIIANS WANT A CONSERVATIVE -- IDAHOANS WANT 564 00:28:33,545 --> 00:28:36,414 A CONSERVATIVE LEADER, NO MATTER WHAT INITIATIVE COMES 565 00:28:36,414 --> 00:28:37,615 FORWARD WILL PROTECT LOCAL CONTROL. 566 00:28:37,615 --> 00:28:40,485 THAT WAS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES IS MAKING SURE THAT 567 00:28:40,485 --> 00:28:41,453 ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN WAS OPIONAL. 568 00:28:41,453 --> 00:28:45,757 BUT IT WAS BASED ON THOSE STATISTICS THAT ONE OF THE 569 00:28:45,757 --> 00:28:49,427 PANELISTS MENTIONED EARLIER. WE KNOW THAT OVER 60% OF OUR 570 00:28:49,427 --> 00:28:51,496 KINDERGARTENERS ARE NOT PREPARED AS THEY'RE COMING 571 00:28:51,496 --> 00:28:53,765 FROM -- THROUGH THE DOOR FOR KINDERGARTEN. 572 00:28:53,765 --> 00:28:56,935 BUT WE WANTED TO OFFER THAT RESOURCES TO PARENTS IF THEY 573 00:28:56,935 --> 00:28:58,803 KNEW THEIR CHILD WAS SLIGHTLY BEHIND. 574 00:28:58,803 --> 00:29:02,273 ALSO AS A FORMER THIRD GRADE TEACHER, THIS IS NEAR AND 575 00:29:02,273 --> 00:29:04,342 KERRY TO MY HEART. ONE OF MY GOALS IS MAKING SURE 576 00:29:04,342 --> 00:29:07,045 OUR STUDENTS ARE ON GRADE LEVEL, BY THIRD GRADE FOR 577 00:29:07,045 --> 00:29:09,881 READING. WE KNOW AS EDUCATORS WHEN KIDS 578 00:29:09,881 --> 00:29:13,818 COME INTO KINDERGARTEN WITH A GAP THAT'S ALREADY WIDE IN 579 00:29:13,818 --> 00:29:16,121 ACHIEVEMENT IT'S LIKELY JUST TO GET WIDER. 580 00:29:16,121 --> 00:29:18,923 AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CLOSE THAT GAP EARLY SO THE 581 00:29:18,923 --> 00:29:22,093 TIME KIDS GET TO THIRD GRADE, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO 582 00:29:22,093 --> 00:29:24,696 SUCCEED JUST LIKE THEIR PEERS. SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO LET 583 00:29:24,696 --> 00:29:27,866 THE VOTERS OUT THERE KNOW THAT ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN IS 584 00:29:27,866 --> 00:29:31,002 OPTIONAL FOR THE STATE OF IDAHO. 585 00:29:31,002 --> 00:29:33,838 >> Aaron Kunz: DID YOU WANT A QUICK FOLLOW-UP? 586 00:29:33,838 --> 00:29:36,641 >> Debbie Critchfield: I WANT TO CLARIFY THE WE, THE ALL-DAY 587 00:29:36,641 --> 00:29:40,378 K EFFORT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY AN EDUCATION TASK FORCE THAT I 588 00:29:40,378 --> 00:29:43,181 COCHAIRED FOR GOVERNOR LITTLE. AND THE GOVERNOR IS WHAT HAS 589 00:29:43,181 --> 00:29:45,583 BROUGHT THIS FORWARD, AND I THINK THAT UNDERSCORES, AGAIN, 590 00:29:45,583 --> 00:29:49,120 WHO IS IT THAT IS DRIVING EDUCATION, WHO SHOULD BE AND 591 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:52,157 WHO IS DOING IT. >> Sherri Ybarra: MY OPPONENT 592 00:29:52,157 --> 00:29:53,725 HAS NO IDEA WHO BRINGS THINGS FORWARD. 593 00:29:53,725 --> 00:29:56,594 THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT STAND IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND 594 00:29:56,594 --> 00:29:59,197 PASS LEGISLATION. I AM THE ONE WHO ASKS FOR IT 595 00:29:59,197 --> 00:30:02,400 IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET, AND MADE SURE THAT HAPPENED 596 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:05,703 THIS YEAR. YOU ARE ONE OF 24 OTHER PEOPLE 597 00:30:05,703 --> 00:30:09,340 THAT SERVED ON THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE INCLUDING MYSELF. 598 00:30:09,340 --> 00:30:10,708 >> Aaron Kunz: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE ON. 599 00:30:10,708 --> 00:30:13,411 BETSY WITH THE NEXT QUESTION. >> Betsy Russell: THE NEXT 600 00:30:13,411 --> 00:30:15,713 QUESTION IS ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE. 601 00:30:15,713 --> 00:30:19,551 THE IDAHO CONSTITUTION MANDATE THAT THE STATE SHALL, QUOTE -- 602 00:30:19,551 --> 00:30:23,888 MAINTAIN A GENERAL UNIFORM AND THOROUGH SYSTEM OF PUBLIC FREE 603 00:30:23,888 --> 00:30:27,058 COMMON SCHOOLS. SENATOR DURST, UNDER YOUR 604 00:30:27,058 --> 00:30:29,794 PHILOSOPHY THAT MONEY SHOULD FOLLOW THE STUDENT, HOW CAN 605 00:30:29,794 --> 00:30:33,898 YOU ENSURE IDAHO I STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE GUARANTEED 606 00:30:33,898 --> 00:30:37,602 AN EQUAL EDUCATION PARTICULARLY IN THE RURAL 607 00:30:37,602 --> 00:30:39,604 AREAS OF THE STATE? PROVIDING THAT'S A GOOD 608 00:30:39,604 --> 00:30:41,472 QUESTION. IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT MY 609 00:30:41,472 --> 00:30:47,645 PLAN, AVAILABLE ON DURSTFORIDAHO.COM, ACTUALLY IT 610 00:30:47,645 --> 00:30:50,481 DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB OF MEETING THAT OBJECTIVE. 611 00:30:50,481 --> 00:30:53,885 RIGHT NOW THERE'S DISPARITIES ON THEMENT A OF MONEY STUDENTS 612 00:30:53,885 --> 00:30:57,021 GET THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF IDAHO ON A PER PUPIL BASIS. 613 00:30:57,021 --> 00:31:01,993 IF YOU LIVE IN ADA COUNTY AND CROSS CLOVERDALE ROAD, YOUR 614 00:31:01,993 --> 00:31:05,496 STUDENT COULD SEE A $2500 PER STUDENT REDECKS. 615 00:31:05,496 --> 00:31:07,365 MY LEGISLATION CORRECT THAT PROBLEM. 616 00:31:07,365 --> 00:31:11,269 IT EVENS THE MONEY AND MAKES SURE THAT OUR RURAL SCHOOLS, 617 00:31:11,269 --> 00:31:14,839 THOSE SCHOOLS WITH LESS THAN 2,000 STUDENTS NEVER SEE A 618 00:31:14,839 --> 00:31:17,375 REDUCTION IN THEIR PER PIF PUPIL FUNDING. 619 00:31:17,375 --> 00:31:20,945 THIS IS A SUPERIOR WAY OF PROVIDE CHOICE, BUT WE ALSO 620 00:31:20,945 --> 00:31:24,849 MAKE SURE WE MEET OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS TO 621 00:31:24,849 --> 00:31:28,386 MAKE SURE WE HAVE UNIFORMITY IN THE FUNDING OF OUR SCHOOLS. 622 00:31:28,386 --> 00:31:31,656 SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ELUSIVE TO LEGISLATORS FOR DECADES. 623 00:31:31,656 --> 00:31:34,525 SO I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE A PLAN THAT WILL DO THAT VERY THING, 624 00:31:34,525 --> 00:31:37,795 THAT WILL PROTECT OUR RURAL SCHOOLS, WHILE BEING ABLE TO 625 00:31:37,795 --> 00:31:41,266 RAISE MORE COMPETITION IN OUR SCHOOLS TO SEE INCREASED 626 00:31:41,266 --> 00:31:48,473 >> Betsy Russell: MRS. CRITCHF IELD, WOULD YOU HAVE SUPPORTED 627 00:31:48,473 --> 00:31:50,675 THE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT BILL THAT DIED IN THE HOUSE 628 00:31:50,675 --> 00:31:53,411 EDUCATION COMMITTEE, A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED 629 00:31:53,411 --> 00:31:57,782 PARENTS TO USE THE MONEY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS? 630 00:31:57,782 --> 00:32:00,385 >> Debbie Critchfield: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CONDITIONAL 631 00:32:00,385 --> 00:32:03,755 NUMBER ONE THAT WE'RE NOT DEFUNDING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 632 00:32:03,755 --> 00:32:05,857 WHICH IS MY PRIORITY AND AS YOU POINTED OUT IS A 633 00:32:05,857 --> 00:32:08,393 CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION. AND SECONDLY, IT COULD NOT 634 00:32:08,393 --> 00:32:10,228 COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR RURAL SCHOOLS. 635 00:32:10,228 --> 00:32:12,630 AND I APPRECIATE THAT REVENUE BROUGHT THAT OUT, AND OF THE 636 00:32:12,630 --> 00:32:16,501 THREE OF US HERE I MANY A THE ONE -- I AM THE ONE CANDIDATE 637 00:32:16,501 --> 00:32:20,171 WHO FULLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT MEANS TO EDUCATE A CHILD IN A 638 00:32:20,171 --> 00:32:23,675 RURAL SETTING. I'M ABOUT COMPETITION TOO, BUT 639 00:32:23,675 --> 00:32:26,444 IN ALMA, IDAHO, THERE'S NO COMPETITION OTHER THAN ONLINE. 640 00:32:26,444 --> 00:32:30,048 WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHOICE, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT CHOICE IN HOW 641 00:32:30,048 --> 00:32:33,284 WE TAKE THAT IN OUTSIDE OF THE MOST POPULOUS AND URBAN AREAS 642 00:32:33,284 --> 00:32:34,919 OF OUR STATE, WHERE IT'S LIMITED TO NOTHING. 643 00:32:34,919 --> 00:32:37,822 SO THOSE ARE THE TWO CONDITIONS UPON WHICH I WOULD 644 00:32:37,822 --> 00:32:43,528 HAVE MOVED FORWARD, POSITIVELY OR NOT, ON THAT LEGISLATION. 645 00:32:43,528 --> 00:32:46,664 >> Betsy Russell: SUPERINTENDE NT YBARRA, YOU OFTEN ADVOCATE 646 00:32:46,664 --> 00:32:49,067 FOR SCHOOL CHOICE. YET IN EIGHT YEARS OR ALMOST 647 00:32:49,067 --> 00:32:52,170 EIGHT YEARS IN STATE OFFICE, YOU HAVE NOT PRESENTED A 648 00:32:52,170 --> 00:32:53,938 MEANINGFUL SCHOOL CHOICE PROPOSAL OF YOUR OWN. 649 00:32:53,938 --> 00:32:57,241 WHY IS THAT? >> Sherri Ybarra: I'M A HUGE 650 00:32:57,241 --> 00:33:00,778 SUPPORTER OF SCHOOL CHOICE OVER MY LEADERSHIP WE'VE 651 00:33:00,778 --> 00:33:02,980 INCREASED THOSE OPPORTUNITIES BY OVER 40%. 652 00:33:02,980 --> 00:33:05,883 BUT WHAT YOU HEARD BOTH MY OPPONENTS SAY IS THEY ARE 653 00:33:05,883 --> 00:33:08,853 SHOWCHER SUPPORTERS. I AM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF 654 00:33:08,853 --> 00:33:11,389 PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. THAT'S WHY YOU SAW MY STAFF 655 00:33:11,389 --> 00:33:15,293 AND MYSELF FIGHT AGAINST ANYTHING THAT COMES FORWARD 656 00:33:15,293 --> 00:33:17,729 THAT SIPHONS MONEY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION. 657 00:33:17,729 --> 00:33:21,599 THE VOTERS OF IDAHO HAVE ENTRUSTED ME WITH THEIR 658 00:33:21,599 --> 00:33:24,335 TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION. 659 00:33:24,335 --> 00:33:28,406 I KNOW OUR RURAL SCHOOLS HAVE A LOT MORE CHALLENGES THAN THE 660 00:33:28,406 --> 00:33:32,610 REST OF OUR LARGER URBAN SCHOOLS DO, IDAHO IS OVER 70% 661 00:33:32,610 --> 00:33:34,379 RURAL. THEY HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS. 662 00:33:34,379 --> 00:33:38,616 AND THE RESEARCH BEHIND THAT SAYS IT'S THE BUDGET. 663 00:33:38,616 --> 00:33:40,952 REDUCING THE THINGS THAT HAMSTRING THOSE RURAL SCHOOLS 664 00:33:40,952 --> 00:33:44,188 IN THE BUDGET MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, 665 00:33:44,188 --> 00:33:47,692 MAKING SURE THERE IS STRONG PARENTAL SUPPORT IN THOSE 666 00:33:47,692 --> 00:33:51,362 SCHOOLS, AND MAKING SURE AS WELL THAT YOU HAVE A LEADER 667 00:33:51,362 --> 00:33:55,099 THAT SUPPORTS EDUCATION PUBLIC EDUCATION AS A CHOICE AS WELL 668 00:33:55,099 --> 00:33:58,169 ACROSS OUR STATE. AND TOUTS ALL OF THE 669 00:33:58,169 --> 00:34:00,571 MAGNIFICENT THINGS THEY'VE DONE IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. 670 00:34:00,571 --> 00:34:04,275 BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT SIPHONS MONEY 671 00:34:04,275 --> 00:34:08,045 AWAY FROM OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. 672 00:34:08,045 --> 00:34:09,981 >> Aaron Kunz: LET'S GIVE THE OTHER CANDIDATES A CHANCE TO 673 00:34:09,981 --> 00:34:13,284 RESPOND. WE'LL START WITH 674 00:34:13,284 --> 00:34:14,986 MRS. CRISPEDFIELD. >> Debbie Critchfield: I'M 675 00:34:14,986 --> 00:34:18,055 CURIOUS HOW SHE'S INCREASED SCHOOL CHOICE BY 40%. 676 00:34:18,055 --> 00:34:21,459 UNLESS SHE'S ON THE CHARTER COMMISSION, I'M NOT SURE HOW 677 00:34:21,459 --> 00:34:23,327 THAT WOULD HAPPEN. >> Sherri Ybarra: I WOULD LIKE 678 00:34:23,327 --> 00:34:26,798 TO ADDRESS MY OPPONENT WHO HAS NO IDEA WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO 679 00:34:26,798 --> 00:34:28,232 RUN THE CHARTER SCHOOL DIVISION. 680 00:34:28,232 --> 00:34:30,802 IT'S LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE, ALL OF THE NEW CHARTER 681 00:34:30,802 --> 00:34:33,604 SCHOOLS. AND ALSO IN ADVANCED 682 00:34:33,604 --> 00:34:36,541 OPPORTUNITY WE -- ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES -- EXCUSE ME. 683 00:34:36,541 --> 00:34:38,409 LIKE IN THE THIRD GRADE CLASSROOM, WE TEACH OUR 684 00:34:38,409 --> 00:34:40,545 STUDENTS NOT TO INTERRUPT. I WAS SPEAKING AND YOU CAN 685 00:34:40,545 --> 00:34:46,050 HAVE YOUR TURN IN A MOMENT. SO WITH THAT, ALSO, THERE IS 686 00:34:46,050 --> 00:34:47,819 LOTS OF CHOICES WITHIN OUR SYSTEM. 687 00:34:47,819 --> 00:34:50,087 FOR EXAMPLE, ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES HAS BEEN OPENED 688 00:34:50,087 --> 00:34:53,124 UP TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS. THAT WAS MY TEAM THAT DID THAT 689 00:34:53,124 --> 00:34:56,294 FOR THE STATE OF IDAHO. BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT 690 00:34:56,294 --> 00:35:00,731 ANYTHING THAT SIPHONS AWAY THOSE DOLLARS FROM OUR PUBLIC 691 00:35:00,731 --> 00:35:04,101 EDUCATION SYSTEM. >> Aaron Kunz: SENATOR DURST? 692 00:35:04,101 --> 00:35:05,970 >> Branden Durst: WHAT YOU HEARD FROM THESE LADIES, ONE 693 00:35:05,970 --> 00:35:09,874 WHO IS COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO COMPETITION IN SCHOOLS, TO AN 694 00:35:09,874 --> 00:35:12,410 EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT, AND ONE WHO GIVE INDICATES AND 695 00:35:12,410 --> 00:35:15,513 DEPENDS UPON WHICH GROUP SHE'S TALKING ABOUT -- TALKING TO AS 696 00:35:15,513 --> 00:35:18,249 TO WHETHER SHE SUPPORTS IT OR NOT. 697 00:35:18,249 --> 00:35:21,853 I'M CRYSTAL CLEAR. I 100% SUPPORT EDUCATION 698 00:35:21,853 --> 00:35:23,921 SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 699 00:35:23,921 --> 00:35:26,791 COMPETING WITH PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR MONEY, AND FOR STUDENTS. 700 00:35:26,791 --> 00:35:29,594 THAT IS HOW COMPETITION WORKS. THAT'S PART OF THE REPUBLICAN 701 00:35:29,594 --> 00:35:32,363 PLATFORM AND I 100% SUPPORT IT. 702 00:35:32,363 --> 00:35:33,264 >> Aaron Kunz: WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON. 703 00:35:33,264 --> 00:35:35,800 KEVIN WITH THE NEXT QUESTION. >> Kevin Richert: SENATOR 704 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:39,036 DURST, YOU'VE TALKED A LOT THIS EVENING ABOUT OFFERING 705 00:35:39,036 --> 00:35:41,072 VOTERS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING THAT IS NOT MORE OF 706 00:35:41,072 --> 00:35:43,107 THE SAME. LET'S TALK ABOUT GRADUATION 707 00:35:43,107 --> 00:35:45,276 RATES. WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD YOU DO 708 00:35:45,276 --> 00:35:51,916 DIFFERENTLY TO IMPROVE ISES' GRADUATION RATES? 709 00:35:51,916 --> 00:35:53,150 >> Branden Durst: THIS GOES BACK TO SCHOOL CHOICE. 710 00:35:53,150 --> 00:35:55,920 IF YOU'RE IN A DISTRICT THAT'S NOT WORKING, BEING ABLE TO 711 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:58,523 LEVERAGE YOUR AUTHORITY AS A PARENT TO TAKE THAT MONEY 712 00:35:58,523 --> 00:36:01,025 SOMEPLACE ELSE IS HOW WE IMPROVE SCHOOL CHOICE. 713 00:36:01,025 --> 00:36:02,727 IT'S HOW WE IMPROVE OUR GRADUATION RATES. 714 00:36:02,727 --> 00:36:05,563 YOU FIND A SCHOOL THAT IS GOING TO WORK FOR YOU, AND TO 715 00:36:05,563 --> 00:36:10,368 HELP ADDRESS THE QUESTION, YOU CAN HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE IN 716 00:36:10,368 --> 00:36:11,936 EVERY PART OF THE STATE OF IDAHO. 717 00:36:11,936 --> 00:36:15,473 ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS FIND FIVE OTHER FAMILIES AND OPEN A 718 00:36:15,473 --> 00:36:16,908 SCHOOL UNDER WHAT WE CALL A POD. 719 00:36:16,908 --> 00:36:18,643 YOU CAN DO THAT ANYWHERE IN IDAHO. 720 00:36:18,643 --> 00:36:22,380 THERE WAS A STORY THAT CAME OUT RECENTLY THAT SHOWED THAT 721 00:36:22,380 --> 00:36:26,484 VERY THING. THIS IS HOW CURVES GOVERN. 722 00:36:26,484 --> 00:36:39,664 THEY DON'T LET NOT ONLY FORSTUDENTS THAT CHOOSE THAT 723 00:36:39,664 --> 00:36:42,333 SCHOOL CHOICE TO GO OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM, BUT IT'S ALSO 724 00:36:42,333 --> 00:36:44,635 IMPROVED THE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS THAT STAY IN THE 725 00:36:44,635 --> 00:36:46,504 SYSTEM AS WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING 726 00:36:46,504 --> 00:36:48,906 IN IDAHO AND WHY WE AREN'T IS JUST BECAUSE OF A LACK OF 727 00:36:48,906 --> 00:36:52,276 LEADERSHIP. >> Kevin Richert: MOST SCHOOL 728 00:36:52,276 --> 00:36:56,280 CHOICE OPTIONS ARE CENTERED IN URBAN AREAS IN THE STATE. 729 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:59,317 WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS, HOW DO YOU EXPAND 730 00:36:59,317 --> 00:37:03,688 SCHOOL CHOICE AND DO THE ARENA OF IMPROVING GRADUATION RATES? 731 00:37:03,688 --> 00:37:06,123 IN RURAL IDAHO? >> Branden Durst: WE DON'T 732 00:37:06,123 --> 00:37:08,626 HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE TO HAVE MONEY FOLLOW STUDENTS. 733 00:37:08,626 --> 00:37:13,731 IF WE DID, THEN 10 FAMILIAR HIS IN A SMALL COMMUNITY LIKE 734 00:37:13,731 --> 00:37:15,900 THREE -- COULD TAKE THEIR KIDS SOMEWHERE ELSE AND IMPROVE THE 735 00:37:15,900 --> 00:37:19,270 AREA. IF YOU'RE -- NO MATTER WHERE 736 00:37:19,270 --> 00:37:22,340 YOU WERE IN IDAHO, IF YOU CAN FIND -- IF YOU CAN FIND OTHER 737 00:37:22,340 --> 00:37:24,842 FAMILIES TO GET TOGETHER, YOU CAN HIRE YOUR OWN TEACHER, 738 00:37:24,842 --> 00:37:28,713 HAVE YOUR OWN CURRICULUM AND DO WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST. 739 00:37:28,713 --> 00:37:30,681 THAT'S CALLED EMPOWERING PARENTS AND THAT'S WHAT I 740 00:37:30,681 --> 00:37:34,952 >> Aaron Kunz: MRS. CRITCHFIEL D, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO 741 00:37:34,952 --> 00:37:37,455 IMPROVE GRAD WAYS RATES? >> Debbie Critchfield: WE'VE 742 00:37:37,455 --> 00:37:39,924 GOT TO TRANSFORM HOW WE EDUCATE OUR JUNIORS AND 743 00:37:39,924 --> 00:37:42,627 SENIORS. AND I WANT TO HAVE THAT 744 00:37:42,627 --> 00:37:45,296 ANCHORED TO A WORK-BASED EXPERIENCE, WHETHER THAT'S 745 00:37:45,296 --> 00:37:47,665 INTERNSHIP APPRENTICESHIP, WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE THE 746 00:37:47,665 --> 00:37:50,001 RELEVANCY FOR WHAT OUR KIDS ARE LEARNING, HOW THEY APPLY 747 00:37:50,001 --> 00:37:51,669 THAT KNOWLEDGE. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT KNOWING, 748 00:37:51,669 --> 00:37:54,238 BUT DOING. I HAVE WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF 749 00:37:54,238 --> 00:37:56,641 SCHOOL DISTRICTS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WHILE PRESIDENT OF 750 00:37:56,641 --> 00:38:00,211 THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO HELP DEVELOP PATHWAYS FOR 751 00:38:00,211 --> 00:38:04,048 GRADUATION THAT TOOK IN CAREER TECHNICAL GOALS. 752 00:38:04,048 --> 00:38:06,350 AND TRADITIONAL COLLEGE GOALS. IF A KID WANTS TO GO TO 753 00:38:06,350 --> 00:38:08,786 COLLEGE IN IDAHO WE KNOW HOW-TO-GET YOU THERE. 754 00:38:08,786 --> 00:38:10,655 BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. 755 00:38:10,655 --> 00:38:14,358 WHAT ARE ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS? AND HOW WE REIMAGINE AND 756 00:38:14,358 --> 00:38:17,061 RETHINK WHAT WE'RE DOING, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT HELP. 757 00:38:17,061 --> 00:38:20,331 THEY WANT A LEADER. THEY DON'T WANT A SPECTATOR. 758 00:38:20,331 --> 00:38:23,401 THERE IS LOCAL CONTROL, BUT THEY WANT A PARTNER THAT WILL 759 00:38:23,401 --> 00:38:26,904 HELP THEM SATISFY THE NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND I BELIEVE 760 00:38:26,904 --> 00:38:31,776 WHEN WE DO THAT, WE WILL SEE STUDENTS THAT WANT TO HAVE THE 761 00:38:31,776 --> 00:38:35,713 EXPERIENCE, THAT'S NOT GET THROUGH YOUR SENIOR YEAR AND 762 00:38:35,713 --> 00:38:37,782 TRY TO GO TO SOMETHING ELSE. THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE 763 00:38:37,782 --> 00:38:39,517 LEARNING AND DOING IN HIGH SCHOOL HAS APPLICATION AND 764 00:38:39,517 --> 00:38:43,554 VALUE TO THEM OUTSIDE. >> Kevin Richert: SUPERINTENDE 765 00:38:43,554 --> 00:38:46,157 NT YBARRA, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE 766 00:38:46,157 --> 00:38:49,493 HITTING A RECORD. BUT THE FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION 767 00:38:49,493 --> 00:38:53,397 RATE DROPPED THIS YEAR. HOW DO YOU IMPROVE THAT 768 00:38:53,397 --> 00:38:57,468 GRADUATION RATE AND HELP STUDENTS GRADUATE ON TIME AS 769 00:38:57,468 --> 00:39:01,272 OPPOSED TO SPENDING AN EXTRA YEAR GETTING THEIR DIPLOMA? 770 00:39:01,272 --> 00:39:03,574 >> Sheri Ybarra: I WAS AN EDUCATOR MYSELF AND SOMEONE 771 00:39:03,574 --> 00:39:05,943 WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE CLASSROOM LEVEL, 772 00:39:05,943 --> 00:39:09,213 WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT THAT NUMBER THAT HAS DROPPED, 773 00:39:09,213 --> 00:39:11,148 THAT'S THE FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE. 774 00:39:11,148 --> 00:39:13,617 WE HAD A PANDEMIC, SO THAT EXPLAINS A LOT. 775 00:39:13,617 --> 00:39:16,454 THAT MEANS KIDS NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO 776 00:39:16,454 --> 00:39:18,889 GRADUATE. SO THAT'S WHY YOU SAW THE 777 00:39:18,889 --> 00:39:21,759 FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE GO TO AN ALL-TIME HIGH. 778 00:39:21,759 --> 00:39:24,895 WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE 779 00:39:24,895 --> 00:39:28,766 AS IDAHOANS RAISE THAT GRADUATION RATE UP? 780 00:39:28,766 --> 00:39:32,703 WE NEED CAREER, MORE CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION CHOICES 781 00:39:32,703 --> 00:39:36,040 FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND I'M PROUD TO SAY UNDER MY 782 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:38,976 LEADERSHIP WE HAVE OFFERED THOSE AT OUR SEVENTH AND 783 00:39:38,976 --> 00:39:40,978 EIGHTH GRADE LEVELS AND FOR THOSE VOTERS WATCHING TONIGHT 784 00:39:40,978 --> 00:39:43,481 WHO HAVE ASKED ME ABOUT VOCATIONAL CREDITS AND HIGH 785 00:39:43,481 --> 00:39:49,987 SCHOOL, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION. 786 00:39:49,987 --> 00:39:52,123 WE NEED MORE OPTIONS WITHIN OUR SYSTEM OF PUBLICATION, I 787 00:39:52,123 --> 00:39:54,458 THINK ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE 788 00:39:54,458 --> 00:39:58,629 PANDEMIC IS WE REALIZE HOW OUR KIDS RELY SO MUCH ON 789 00:39:58,629 --> 00:40:01,165 TECHNOLOGY. IN A TIME WHEN OUR PARENTS 790 00:40:01,165 --> 00:40:04,001 WILL SHOW UP AT THE COFFEE SHOP IN THE MORNING BEFORE 791 00:40:04,001 --> 00:40:06,737 DROPPING THEIR KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL AND EXPECT HIGH-SPEED 792 00:40:06,737 --> 00:40:09,340 INTERNET WITH THEIR CUP OF JOE, OUR STUDENTS EXPECT NO 793 00:40:09,340 --> 00:40:11,175 LESS. AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY WE 794 00:40:11,175 --> 00:40:15,880 CAN KEEP KIDS ENGAGED. A MASTERY-BASED EDUCATIONAL 795 00:40:15,880 --> 00:40:18,482 SYSTEM, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THAT LEGISLATION FORWARD, TO 796 00:40:18,482 --> 00:40:22,620 MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS CAN BE SELF-LEARNERS IN THAT SYSTEM 797 00:40:22,620 --> 00:40:25,356 IF THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT CHOOSES TO PARTICIPATE IN 798 00:40:25,356 --> 00:40:27,691 THAT. AGAIN, OUR KIDS NEED TO HAVE A 799 00:40:27,691 --> 00:40:29,293 FOOT IN BOTH LANES AT ALL TIMES. 800 00:40:29,293 --> 00:40:32,096 IT IS OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SUPPLYING THOSE 801 00:40:32,096 --> 00:40:35,800 RESOURCES FOR THEM TO BE COLLEGE OR CAREER READY LIKE 802 00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:38,636 WE HAVE DONE. >> Aaron Kunz: OUR NEXT 803 00:40:38,636 --> 00:40:41,505 QUESTION COMES FROM BETSY. YOUR FIRST QUESTION TO SENATOR 804 00:40:41,505 --> 00:40:43,674 DURST. >> Betsy Russell: SENATOR 805 00:40:43,674 --> 00:40:46,644 DURST, WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND ITS IMPACT ON 806 00:40:46,644 --> 00:40:48,612 EDUCATION IN IDAHO. TELL ME WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE 807 00:40:48,612 --> 00:40:51,215 DONE DIFFERENTLY? YOU HAVE INDICATED YOU WOULD 808 00:40:51,215 --> 00:40:54,385 SUPPORT A STATEWIDE BAN ON MASK MANDATE. 809 00:40:54,385 --> 00:40:58,422 DOESN'T THAT FLY IN THE FACE OF LOCAL CONTROL? 810 00:40:58,422 --> 00:40:59,790 >> Branden Durst: THERE'S THINGS LOCAL CONTROL ISN'T 811 00:40:59,790 --> 00:41:01,492 APPROPRIATE FOR, AND THAT'S ONE OF THEM. 812 00:41:01,492 --> 00:41:03,360 THE MOST LOCAL CONTROL IS FOR THE PARENTS. 813 00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:05,763 AND I SUPPORT LOCAL CONTROL FOR PARENTS TO MAKE THOSE 814 00:41:05,763 --> 00:41:07,965 DECISIONS FOR THEIR STUDENTS. AND I DO BELIEVE THERE SHOULD 815 00:41:07,965 --> 00:41:11,168 HAVE BEEN A MOVE BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO BAN 816 00:41:11,168 --> 00:41:14,104 SCHOOL DISTRICTS -- TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM 817 00:41:14,104 --> 00:41:16,740 MANDATING MASKS. WE SAW PLACES IN WEST ADA 818 00:41:16,740 --> 00:41:19,376 SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE PARENTS HAD TO LINE UP AROUND THEIR 819 00:41:19,376 --> 00:41:22,346 DISTRICT OFFICE FOR HOURS TO KISS THE RING OF THE KING SO 820 00:41:22,346 --> 00:41:26,951 THEY COULD ASK FOR THEIR CHILDREN NOT TO BE FORCED TO 821 00:41:26,951 --> 00:41:29,787 BE WEARING MASKS ONLY TO HAVE THAT POLICY REVERSED. 822 00:41:29,787 --> 00:41:31,956 PARENTS SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE DRIVERS OF THAT 823 00:41:31,956 --> 00:41:34,158 DECISION FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND I FULLY SUPPORT THAT. 824 00:41:34,158 --> 00:41:37,228 IN FACT, I THINK THAT'S JUST ONE THING WE SHOULD HAVE DONE. 825 00:41:37,228 --> 00:41:41,632 WE SHOULD HAVE ALSO MAINTAINED R SCHOOLS STAYED OPEN. 826 00:41:41,632 --> 00:41:44,301 THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED CREATIVE WORK CAN WITH OUR 827 00:41:44,301 --> 00:41:47,738 STAFF WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS, HAVING SHARED OPPORTUNITIES 828 00:41:47,738 --> 00:41:50,975 BETWEEN DISTRICTS. BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR 829 00:41:50,975 --> 00:41:52,776 IN-PERSON LEARNING SHOULD HAVE REMAINED. 830 00:41:52,776 --> 00:41:56,046 LET ME GIVE AGIVE STORY. ACROSS FROM MY OFFICE WAS A 831 00:41:56,046 --> 00:41:59,783 PRIVATE SCHOOL IN A PUBLIC -- THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, 832 00:41:59,783 --> 00:42:02,620 THE PRIVATE SCHOOL STAYED OPEN, AND THE CHILDREN WERE 833 00:42:02,620 --> 00:42:04,255 UNMASKED. WHEN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FINALLY 834 00:42:04,255 --> 00:42:07,124 WENT BACK INTO SCHOOL, STUDENTS WERE FORCED TO STAY 835 00:42:07,124 --> 00:42:10,828 AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND THEY WERE FORCED TO WEAR MASKS. 836 00:42:10,828 --> 00:42:14,098 ON ONE SIDE THERE WAS JOY ON THE OTHER SIDE THERE WAS BON 837 00:42:14,098 --> 00:42:15,633 DAMAGE. I BELIEVE IN FREEDOM FOR OUR 838 00:42:15,633 --> 00:42:18,736 STUDENTS, I BELIEVE IN FREEDOM FOR OUR PARENTS AND THAT STATE 839 00:42:18,736 --> 00:42:23,507 SUPERINTENDENT THAT'S WHAT >> Betsy Russell: MRS. CRITCHF 840 00:42:23,507 --> 00:42:25,776 IELD, WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT IS YOUR 841 00:42:25,776 --> 00:42:29,413 PLAN TO ADDRESS LEARNING LOSS? >> Debbie Critchfield: THANK 842 00:42:29,413 --> 00:42:31,148 YOU. I KNOW IT'S EASY FOR PEOPLE 843 00:42:31,148 --> 00:42:34,118 THAT WEREN'T THERE AND DON'T KNOW TO DO SOME QUARTERBACKING 844 00:42:34,118 --> 00:42:37,688 AFTER THE FACT, AND WE LOOK BACK ON WHAT WE DID AND HOW WE 845 00:42:37,688 --> 00:42:41,725 TRIED TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS BEING OPEN IN PERSON, AND WHAT THEIR 846 00:42:41,725 --> 00:42:43,427 PLANS WERE AND WHAT THEIR PROTOCOLS WERE. 847 00:42:43,427 --> 00:42:47,564 WHAT I LEARNED WAS THIS -- THE DISTRICTS WHO HAD A PLAN AND 848 00:42:47,564 --> 00:42:50,801 HAD AN EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD AND A STRONG SUPERINTENDENT 849 00:42:50,801 --> 00:42:53,637 WERE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE PANDEMIC. 850 00:42:53,637 --> 00:42:57,441 THOSE THAT WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH PARENTS AND THAT HAD OPEN 851 00:42:57,441 --> 00:43:00,945 COMMUNICATION WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO BE NIMBLE AND ADAPT TO 852 00:43:00,945 --> 00:43:05,516 THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT'S EASY TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, GOSH, A 853 00:43:05,516 --> 00:43:10,387 COUPLE YEARS AGO WE SHOULD SHOULDA, WOULDA, COULDA. 854 00:43:10,387 --> 00:43:12,790 AT THE TIME WE WERE IN REAL TIME IN A PUBLIC SET CAN, 855 00:43:12,790 --> 00:43:15,960 TRYING TO HELP SUPPORT WHAT OUR BOARDS WERE DOING, THEY 856 00:43:15,960 --> 00:43:19,363 ARE LOCALLY ELECTED PEOPLE. AND MR. DURST WANTING A 857 00:43:19,363 --> 00:43:23,167 MANDATE THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE MASKS IS -- SEEMS VERY SIMILAR 858 00:43:23,167 --> 00:43:25,803 TO WHAT IF THERE HAD BEEN A MANDATE THAT EVERYONE HAD 859 00:43:25,803 --> 00:43:27,204 MASKING? I DIDN'T WANT THAT. 860 00:43:27,204 --> 00:43:30,240 WE WANTED THE ABILITY FOR LOCAL BOARDS WORKING WITH 861 00:43:30,240 --> 00:43:32,810 THEIR COMMUNITIES IN WHAT WORKED IN THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, 862 00:43:32,810 --> 00:43:36,480 TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THAT 863 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:40,517 THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT MAINTAINS THE ROLE OF 864 00:43:40,517 --> 00:43:42,953 SUPPORTER, YOU LISTEN, YOU SEE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO HELP 865 00:43:42,953 --> 00:43:45,889 SUPPORT THOSE LOCAL DECISIONS, AND PROVIDE THE RESOURCES THAT 866 00:43:45,889 --> 00:43:48,859 HELP THEM ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS. 867 00:43:48,859 --> 00:43:50,961 >> Aaron Kunz: LET'S GIVE SENATOR DURST 30 SECONDS TO 868 00:43:50,961 --> 00:43:53,864 RESPOND. >> Branden Durst: WE'RE NOT 869 00:43:53,864 --> 00:43:56,000 TELLING ANYBODY THEY CAN'T WEAR A MASK, JUST THAT PARENTS 870 00:43:56,000 --> 00:43:58,302 SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PUT A MASK ON THEIR CHILD. 871 00:43:58,302 --> 00:44:01,638 NUMBER TWO, IT WAS IN FRONT OF TESTIMONY IN THE HOUSE 872 00:44:01,638 --> 00:44:04,608 EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IT WAS 873 00:44:04,608 --> 00:44:08,612 MEMBERS OF THE ALPHABET SOUP ISBA AND OTHERS WHO SAID ON 874 00:44:08,612 --> 00:44:10,781 THE RECORD IT WAS YOUR OFFICE THAT WAS TELLING DISTRICTS 875 00:44:10,781 --> 00:44:13,117 THEY HAD TO KEEP THEIR SCHOOLS CLOSED. 876 00:44:13,117 --> 00:44:15,953 THAT ON THE RECORD. AND I CAN FIND THE DATE IF YOU 877 00:44:15,953 --> 00:44:18,122 WOULD LIKE. I'M HAPPY TO PUT IT ON MY 878 00:44:18,122 --> 00:44:19,656 WEBSITE. WE HAVE THE VIDEO. 879 00:44:19,656 --> 00:44:21,625 THEY SAID THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION OF THE STATE 880 00:44:21,625 --> 00:44:23,694 BOARD OF EDUCATION WHO IS FELLING THEM TO KEEP THEIR 881 00:44:23,694 --> 00:44:26,764 SCHOOLS CLOSED. AND THEY WERE ALSO THE ONES 882 00:44:26,764 --> 00:44:29,066 FORCING THESE GUIDELINES ON KEEPING CHILDREN MATCHINGED 883 00:44:29,066 --> 00:44:34,705 RATHER THAN GIVING THE AUTHORITY TO PARENTS. 884 00:44:34,705 --> 00:44:37,007 >> Sherri Ybarra: I NEVER GAVE A DIRECTIVE FOR BOARDS TO KEEP 885 00:44:37,007 --> 00:44:38,909 THEIR SCHOOLS CLOSED. I'M NOT SURE ON THE DATE OF 886 00:44:38,909 --> 00:44:42,212 THAT. I SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF THE 887 00:44:42,212 --> 00:44:45,816 REOPEN IDAHO ACROSS THE STATE, ON THE GOVERNOR'S K-12 888 00:44:45,816 --> 00:44:48,318 COUNCIL, HOW DO WE GET KIDS BACK INTO SCHOOL? 889 00:44:48,318 --> 00:44:51,722 AS SOON AS WE WENT INTO SOFT CLOSURE, WHICH WAS ORDERED 890 00:44:51,722 --> 00:44:55,859 THROUGH THE STAGING ORDERS IN THE STATE, IMMEDIATELY MY 891 00:44:55,859 --> 00:44:57,761 ATTENTION AS PRESIDENT TURNED TO HELPING SUPPORT OUR 892 00:44:57,761 --> 00:45:01,365 DISTRICTS TO GET BACK OPEN IN THE FORM THAT THEY COULD, 893 00:45:01,365 --> 00:45:05,102 PREFERABLY IN PERSON, FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR. 894 00:45:05,102 --> 00:45:06,336 >> Betsy Russell: SUPERINTENDE NT YBARRA, WHAT DID YOU LEARN 895 00:45:06,336 --> 00:45:09,473 FROM THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS LEARNING 896 00:45:09,473 --> 00:45:10,340 LOSS? >> Sherri Ybarra: I WANT THE 897 00:45:10,340 --> 00:45:13,844 VOTERS OF IDAHO TO KNOW THIS IS WHY I HAVE BEEN A STAUNCH 898 00:45:13,844 --> 00:45:17,381 SUPPORTER OF LOCAL CONTROL. I DID NOT INSTITUTE A MASK 899 00:45:17,381 --> 00:45:19,583 MANDATE, NOR DID I CLOSE SCHOOLS. 900 00:45:19,583 --> 00:45:23,520 BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY THOSE EDUCATORS DID 901 00:45:23,520 --> 00:45:26,356 AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN A TIME WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE A 902 00:45:26,356 --> 00:45:29,760 BLUEPRINT FOR THIS PANDEMIC. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE 903 00:45:29,760 --> 00:45:32,496 FOUND OUT VERY QUICKLY FROM PARENTS, THEY WANTED THEIR 904 00:45:32,496 --> 00:45:35,199 SCHOOLS OPEN, AND A LOT OF PARENTS TOLD ME I'M NOT A 905 00:45:35,199 --> 00:45:37,301 TEACHER AND I FOUND THAT OUT THE HARD WAY. 906 00:45:37,301 --> 00:45:40,070 SO WHAT DID WE LEARN? WE LEARNED TECHNOLOGY WAS A 907 00:45:40,070 --> 00:45:43,006 MUST. THAT PARENTS WANT MORE 908 00:45:43,006 --> 00:45:45,676 INVOLVEMENT. THAT WE NEEDED SOMETHING 909 00:45:45,676 --> 00:45:48,445 CALLED A STATEWIDE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT COULD 910 00:45:48,445 --> 00:45:51,181 TAKE ATTENDANCE, BECAUSE WE HAD A FUNDING FORMULA THAT 911 00:45:51,181 --> 00:45:54,585 FUNDS SCHOOLS THAT WAS BASED ON ATTENDANCE DURING A 912 00:45:54,585 --> 00:45:57,855 PANDEMIC WHERE EVERYBODY WAS MISSING SCHOOL AND THERE 913 00:45:57,855 --> 00:46:00,124 WASN'T THE AMOUNT OF ATTENDANCE THAT COULD FUND OUR 914 00:46:00,124 --> 00:46:03,794 SCHOOLS. THAT'S ALSO WHY YOU SAW ME 915 00:46:03,794 --> 00:46:07,297 SUPPORT AT A BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK MOVING AWAY FROM 916 00:46:07,297 --> 00:46:11,468 THAT MODEL INTO MORE OF AN ENROLLMENT-BASED MODEL FOR 917 00:46:11,468 --> 00:46:14,071 FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS. SO WE LEARNED A LOT MOVING 918 00:46:14,071 --> 00:46:16,140 FORWARD, BUT I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING WE NEED TO DO 919 00:46:16,140 --> 00:46:18,876 IS THANK OUR TEACHERS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY DID AND THE 920 00:46:18,876 --> 00:46:23,814 OTHER THING WE LEARNED IS, WE SHOULDN'T EVER CLOSE SCHOOLS 921 00:46:23,814 --> 00:46:26,416 AGAIN. AND WHILE NOBODY COULD HAVE 922 00:46:26,416 --> 00:46:29,920 FORESEEN THAT AND NOBODY DID ANYTHING WRONG, WE DID SEE 923 00:46:29,920 --> 00:46:33,390 THAT THERE WERE SOME SLIDEBACKS IN OUR ACHIEVEMENT 924 00:46:33,390 --> 00:46:36,593 WITH OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, AND OUR SPECIAL 925 00:46:36,593 --> 00:46:39,663 POPULATIONS. AND WE KNEW THAT, AS 926 00:46:39,663 --> 00:46:42,065 EDUCATORS, BUT WE'LL BE WORKING HARD MOVING FORWARD TO 927 00:46:42,065 --> 00:46:43,967 CLOSE THOSE GAPS. >> Betsy Russell: WHAT IS YOUR 928 00:46:43,967 --> 00:46:46,603 PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT LEARNING LOSS, TO ADDRESS THOSE 929 00:46:46,603 --> 00:46:48,572 SLIDEBACKS AS YOU CALL THEM? >> Sherri Ybarra: THAT'S A 930 00:46:48,572 --> 00:46:50,307 GREAT QUESTION, BETSY. WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH 931 00:46:50,307 --> 00:46:53,277 DISTRICTS ON IS MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE USING THEIR COVID 932 00:46:53,277 --> 00:46:55,579 RELIEF DOLLARS ON THOSE RESEARCH PRACTICES THAT WE 933 00:46:55,579 --> 00:46:59,082 KNOW AS EDUCATORS WORK. THAT'S HIGH DOSES OF TUTORING, 934 00:46:59,082 --> 00:47:02,386 THAT'S MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A JUMP START INTO OPTIONAL 935 00:47:02,386 --> 00:47:05,355 ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. 936 00:47:05,355 --> 00:47:08,725 SUMMER READING PROGRAMS, WHICH MAY SECOND MY DEPARTMENT AS 937 00:47:08,725 --> 00:47:10,394 HOSTING SOMETHING CALLED A SMART TRAINING. 938 00:47:10,394 --> 00:47:14,198 WHICH IS TRAINING ALL TEACHERS AROUND THE STATE AROUND THE 939 00:47:14,198 --> 00:47:17,834 SCIENCE OF READING AND HOW TO MAKE SURE TO INTERVENE WITH 940 00:47:17,834 --> 00:47:21,104 KIDS WHEN WE SEE THEY MAY HAVE A DIFFICULTY WITH -- HAVE 941 00:47:21,104 --> 00:47:23,540 DIFFICULTY WITH READING. BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE AN 942 00:47:23,540 --> 00:47:25,209 EDUCATOR TO KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS. 943 00:47:25,209 --> 00:47:28,445 AND TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE AT IN IDAHO WHERE WE 944 00:47:28,445 --> 00:47:32,015 WENT FROM 31st ACHIEVEMENT TO 17th IN ACHIEVEMENT, 945 00:47:32,015 --> 00:47:34,851 RIGHT NOW WHILE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. 946 00:47:34,851 --> 00:47:37,955 I'M PLEASED, WE DO HAVE A LOT MUCH WORK TO DO, I DO HAVE A 947 00:47:37,955 --> 00:47:41,024 PLAN TO SUPPORT THAT MOVING FORWARD, THAT IS BASED ON 948 00:47:41,024 --> 00:47:44,094 FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC. AND JUST A COUPLE MORE POINTS, 949 00:47:44,094 --> 00:47:46,463 WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON READING, WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS 950 00:47:46,463 --> 00:47:48,832 ON PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO 951 00:47:48,832 --> 00:47:52,336 MAKE SURE THAT OUR EDUCATORS HAVE IMPROVED PAY, BECAUSE WE 952 00:47:52,336 --> 00:47:57,307 KNOW THEY WERE THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR WHY OUR KIDS HAVE 953 00:47:57,307 --> 00:48:00,244 BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL. >> Aaron Kunz: NEXT ROUND OF 954 00:48:00,244 --> 00:48:01,845 QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING BACK TO KEVIN. 955 00:48:01,845 --> 00:48:07,217 IF YOU COULD ADDRESS MRS. CRITCHFIELD. 956 00:48:07,217 --> 00:48:10,687 >> Kevin Richert: BE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS SAID 957 00:48:10,687 --> 00:48:13,223 THAT THEY DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S A CRITICAL RACE 958 00:48:13,223 --> 00:48:18,061 PROBLEM IN THE STATE, OR THAT THERE'S WIDESPREAD CRITICAL 959 00:48:18,061 --> 00:48:21,565 RACE THEORY BEING TAWGHTS. DO YOU SUPPORT THAT OPINION? 960 00:48:21,565 --> 00:48:24,034 >> Debbie Critchfield: AS A SYSTEMIC EFFORT TO INCORPORATE 961 00:48:24,034 --> 00:48:27,004 IT IN SCHOOLS, I DO NOT AND HAVE NOT SEEN IT. 962 00:48:27,004 --> 00:48:29,940 THERE ARE THREE THINGS I KNOW ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY. 963 00:48:29,940 --> 00:48:32,576 PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING IN SCHOOLS AND WHAT 964 00:48:32,576 --> 00:48:35,412 THEIR CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO. OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAYING WE 965 00:48:35,412 --> 00:48:37,714 DON'T HAVE IT HERE AND POLICYMAKERS DON'T KNOW WHAT 966 00:48:37,714 --> 00:48:41,218 TO DO. I THINK AS WE LOOK AT HOW YOU 967 00:48:41,218 --> 00:48:44,388 DEFINE IT, THERE ARE THINGS THAT PARENTS ARE BROUGHT TO ME 968 00:48:44,388 --> 00:48:47,991 THAT THEY BELIEVED WERE CRITICAL RACE THEORY, AND MAY 969 00:48:47,991 --> 00:48:49,960 OR MAY NOT HAVE FIT THE DEFINITION. 970 00:48:49,960 --> 00:48:53,263 I GUESS YOU HAVE TO START WITH HOW DOES SOMEONE DEFINE IT? 971 00:48:53,263 --> 00:48:55,098 WE KNOW MORE THAN WE DID A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN THIS 972 00:48:55,098 --> 00:48:57,968 FIRST CAME AROUND. AND I HAVE SEEN MORE DILIGENCE 973 00:48:57,968 --> 00:49:01,605 OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO 974 00:49:01,605 --> 00:49:04,708 PARENTS, THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT, THEY NEED MORE HELP, 975 00:49:04,708 --> 00:49:09,846 THEY DON'T NEED FIVE-POINT PRESENTATIONS OF HOW TO DO 976 00:49:09,846 --> 00:49:11,615 THIS OR THAT. THEY NEED SOMEONE THAT WILL 977 00:49:11,615 --> 00:49:16,186 HELP THEM COMMUNICATE. AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND 978 00:49:16,186 --> 00:49:19,256 MAKE SURE OUR PARENTS ARE PARTICIPATING IN SOME OF THESE 979 00:49:19,256 --> 00:49:23,493 VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEES AND DECISION MAKINGS AT THE LOCAL 980 00:49:23,493 --> 00:49:24,995 LEVEL. >> Kevin Richert: SUPERINTENDE 981 00:49:24,995 --> 00:49:28,799 NT YBARRA, DO YOU THINK IT'S A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN SCHOOLS 982 00:49:28,799 --> 00:49:31,201 AND TO WHAT DEGREE HAVE YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT TRIED TO 983 00:49:31,201 --> 00:49:32,869 TRACK IT? >> Sherri Ybarra: AT LEAST 984 00:49:32,869 --> 00:49:36,073 WE'RE NOT ONE OF THOSE SCARY EXAMPLES IN THE HILLSDALE 985 00:49:36,073 --> 00:49:41,078 COLLEGE JOURNAL REPORT THAT USES IDAHO AS AN EXAMPLE OF 986 00:49:41,078 --> 00:49:42,913 CRT. I WILL ALSO SAY PARENTS ARE 987 00:49:42,913 --> 00:49:44,648 CONCERNED. AND SO WHAT DID I DO? 988 00:49:44,648 --> 00:49:48,385 I SPRUNG INTO ACTION. ONE I SUPPORTED THE 989 00:49:48,385 --> 00:49:50,687 LEGISLATION THAT OUR LEGISLATURE CAME OUT WITH, I 990 00:49:50,687 --> 00:49:55,158 DID NOT ON APRIL 22nd OF 2021 LIKE MY OPPONENT SAY SHE 991 00:49:55,158 --> 00:49:57,227 WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO TAKE A POSITION. 992 00:49:57,227 --> 00:50:00,430 I ROLLED MY SLEEVES UP, I GOT OUT INTO THE CLASSROOMS, I 993 00:50:00,430 --> 00:50:03,400 VISITED GOVERNMENT CLASSES, I VISITED HISTORY CLASSES, I 994 00:50:03,400 --> 00:50:06,870 TALKED TO EDUCATORS AND WHAT I SAW WAS THE DECLARATION OF 995 00:50:06,870 --> 00:50:10,574 INDEPENDENCE BEING STUDIED, THE CONSTITUTION, EVERYBODY 996 00:50:10,574 --> 00:50:14,211 WAS IN GOOD SPIRITS, AND SAID THEY ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO 997 00:50:14,211 --> 00:50:16,346 FOLLOW THE LAW. ON BEHALF OF IDAHOANS, WHAT 998 00:50:16,346 --> 00:50:18,949 ELSE I HAVE DONE? I'VE MADE SURE I'VE 999 00:50:18,949 --> 00:50:22,018 INVESTIGATED EVERY ALLEGATION THAT'S COME ACROSS MY DESK. 1000 00:50:22,018 --> 00:50:25,589 AND LASTLY, I DID GIVE A FIVE-POINT PLAN TO 1001 00:50:25,589 --> 00:50:28,091 SUPERINTENDENTS AS AYE TRAVELED THE STATE, MAKING 1002 00:50:28,091 --> 00:50:31,628 SURE THEY EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT AND THAT THEY TAKE EVERY 1003 00:50:31,628 --> 00:50:33,296 ALLEGATION SERIOUSLY. PARENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED 1004 00:50:33,296 --> 00:50:35,499 ABOUT THIS. IN OUR STATE. 1005 00:50:35,499 --> 00:50:40,170 SO YOU MUST MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS SHOW YOU THE EXAMPLE AND 1006 00:50:40,170 --> 00:50:42,439 YOU HAVE FOCUS GROUPS LIKE SOME OF OUR SUPERINTENDENTS 1007 00:50:42,439 --> 00:50:45,575 HAVE HAD. THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE 1008 00:50:45,575 --> 00:50:48,879 ADVICE I GAVE THEM, THEY HAD FOCUS GROUPS, THEY ARE ASKING 1009 00:50:48,879 --> 00:50:51,415 PEOPLE TO POINT OUT EXAMPLES% MOVING FORWARD. 1010 00:50:51,415 --> 00:50:58,388 I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT ON BEHALF OF IDAHOANS. 1011 00:50:58,388 --> 00:51:00,257 >> Aaron Kunz: SENATOR DURST, I SUSPECT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT 1012 00:51:00,257 --> 00:51:02,793 READ ON THE EXTENT OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE SCHOOLS. 1013 00:51:02,793 --> 00:51:05,529 I WANT TO HEAR THAT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO HEAR HOW DO YOU 1014 00:51:05,529 --> 00:51:08,632 DEFINE CRITICAL RACE THEORY? >> Branden Durst: IT'S AN 1015 00:51:08,632 --> 00:51:11,902 IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR OUR FAMILIES. 1016 00:51:11,902 --> 00:51:15,071 SOCIAL JUSTICE DOCTRINATION, WHETHER WE CALL IT CRITICAL 1017 00:51:15,071 --> 00:51:18,575 RACE THEORY, TRANSFORM TEF SEL, NO MATTER THE FORM, WHAT 1018 00:51:18,575 --> 00:51:21,211 IT DOES IS TRIES TO DIVIDE OUR PEOPLE INTO TWO GROUPS. 1019 00:51:21,211 --> 00:51:25,282 ONE THAT IS OPPRESSED AND ONE THAT IS THE OPPRESSOR, BASED 1020 00:51:25,282 --> 00:51:27,784 ON THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND. 1021 00:51:27,784 --> 00:51:30,887 I THINK WE NEED TO STOP IT. WE NEED REAL ACTION. 1022 00:51:30,887 --> 00:51:33,890 WHAT I HEAR IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE TALK. 1023 00:51:33,890 --> 00:51:35,525 BUT NOT ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. 1024 00:51:35,525 --> 00:51:39,229 THAT'S WHY I PROPOSED AND WILL PROPOSE AS MEMBER OF THE STATE 1025 00:51:39,229 --> 00:51:42,332 BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A NEW POLICY UNDER BOARD POLICY 1026 00:51:42,332 --> 00:51:45,101 3B WHICH WILL CREATE A CAUSE OF ACTION. 1027 00:51:45,101 --> 00:51:47,938 IF TEACHERS OR PROFESSORS ARE TRYING TO DOCTRINE YAIT OUR 1028 00:51:47,938 --> 00:51:50,106 STUDENTS AND DON'T TAKE THE MESSAGE TO STOP, THEY'RE GOING 1029 00:51:50,106 --> 00:51:52,075 TO LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO TEACH IN IDAHO. 1030 00:51:52,075 --> 00:51:54,811 THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE HAVE TO HAVE A REAL PLAN. 1031 00:51:54,811 --> 00:51:57,113 WE CAN'T KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT AND HAVING MORE DIALOGUE. 1032 00:51:57,113 --> 00:52:01,618 THE TIME FOR DIALOGUE IS OVER. OUR SCHOOLS ARE BEING INFESTED 1033 00:52:01,618 --> 00:52:05,021 WITH THESE THINGS, IS IT HAPPENING IN EVERY DISTRICT IN 1034 00:52:05,021 --> 00:52:06,289 IDAHO? NO. 1035 00:52:06,289 --> 00:52:08,258 BUT IS IT HAPPENING IN A WIDESPREAD BASIS? 1036 00:52:08,258 --> 00:52:09,659 YES. AND I HAVEN'T STEPPED AWAY 1037 00:52:09,659 --> 00:52:14,164 FROM THAT POSITION. STANDING UP HERE WHO HASN'T 1038 00:52:14,164 --> 00:52:17,033 SAID PUBLICLY THAT IT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE 1039 00:52:17,033 --> 00:52:19,069 WORRIED ABOUT. I BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM AND 1040 00:52:19,069 --> 00:52:21,671 I THINK SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TAKE SERIOUSLY, WHICH IS WHY 1041 00:52:21,671 --> 00:52:23,240 IT'S BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF MY CAMPAIGN. 1042 00:52:23,240 --> 00:52:25,208 AND SOMETHING I'VE BEEN SPENDING SO MUCH TIME TALKING 1043 00:52:25,208 --> 00:52:27,777 ABOUT AND LISTENING TO VOTERS AS THEY SHARE THEIR CONCERNS 1044 00:52:27,777 --> 00:52:30,013 AS WELL. >> Aaron Kunz: WE ARE OUT OF 1045 00:52:30,013 --> 00:52:32,015 TIME. IT IS TIME FOR YOUR CLOSING 1046 00:52:32,015 --> 00:52:33,850 STATEMENTS. 60 SECONDS FOR EACH OF THE 1047 00:52:33,850 --> 00:52:35,552 CANDIDATES. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH 1048 00:52:35,552 --> 00:52:37,921 SENATOR DURST. >> Branden Durst: THANK YOU TO 1049 00:52:37,921 --> 00:52:40,023 IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION FOR OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS 1050 00:52:40,023 --> 00:52:43,193 DEBATE. AS I SAID OVER AN HOUR AGO, 1051 00:52:43,193 --> 00:52:45,061 YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TWO COMPETING VISIONS FOR THE 1052 00:52:45,061 --> 00:52:48,198 FUTURE OF IDAHO SCHOOLS. YOU HEARD FROM THE LADIES TO 1053 00:52:48,198 --> 00:52:51,468 MY LEFT, THEIR VISION IS TO DOUBLE DOWN ON A SYSTEM THAT 1054 00:52:51,468 --> 00:52:53,670 ISN'T WORKING FOR SO MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND SO 1055 00:52:53,670 --> 00:52:58,174 MANY STUDENTS. A SYSTEM THEY BELIEVE IS -- 1056 00:52:58,174 --> 00:53:00,343 THE EDUCATION SYSTEM THOSE BEST AND PARENTS DON'T. 1057 00:53:00,343 --> 00:53:03,113 MY VISION IS CRYSTAL CLEAR. I TRUST PARENTS. 1058 00:53:03,113 --> 00:53:05,315 I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THEIR 1059 00:53:05,315 --> 00:53:07,183 CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD GET 1060 00:53:07,183 --> 00:53:10,687 GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY. AND LET THEM LEAD. 1061 00:53:10,687 --> 00:53:13,223 ON MAY 17th WE HAVE ALL HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT HAVE 1062 00:53:13,223 --> 00:53:15,191 GONE ON. ON MAY 17th I'M GOING TO 1063 00:53:15,191 --> 00:53:17,694 GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. 1064 00:53:17,694 --> 00:53:20,764 A CHANCE TO ELECT SOMEONE WHO WILL CHANGE THE EDUCATION 1065 00:53:20,764 --> 00:53:23,166 SYSTEM, SOMEONE WHO WILL MAKE OUR IMPROVEMENT, WHO WILL 1066 00:53:23,166 --> 00:53:25,936 FOCUS ON PARENTS, SOMEONE WHO WILL FOCUS ON STUDENT 1067 00:53:25,936 --> 00:53:28,371 ACHIEVEMENT AND ON MAY 17th YOU'LL GET YOUR FINAL CHANCE 1068 00:53:28,371 --> 00:53:31,141 TO DO SOMETHING YOU'VE WANTED TO DO FOR A LONG TIME, WHICH 1069 00:53:31,141 --> 00:53:36,079 IS SAY LET'S GO BRANDEN. VOTE FOR ME ON MAY 17th. 1070 00:53:36,079 --> 00:53:39,082 THANK YOU. >> Debbie Critchfield: THANK 1071 00:53:39,082 --> 00:53:41,551 YOU TO THE PANEL AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR 1072 00:53:41,551 --> 00:53:44,754 VIEWPOINTS. AND THERE IS A STARK CONTRAST 1073 00:53:44,754 --> 00:53:47,457 HERE. AND IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME 1074 00:53:47,457 --> 00:53:51,027 TO TRANSFORM THE NEED OF OUR EDUCATION AND EDUCATIONAL 1075 00:53:51,027 --> 00:53:53,863 SYSTEM TO FIT THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY, 1076 00:53:53,863 --> 00:53:57,000 IT IS NOW. AND WE NEED A LEADER TO DO 1077 00:53:57,000 --> 00:53:58,501 THIS. I AM THE CHANGE CANDIDATE. 1078 00:53:58,501 --> 00:53:59,970 THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE STATUS QUO. 1079 00:53:59,970 --> 00:54:03,607 IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING TENURED INTO POSITION WITH FUZZY DATA. 1080 00:54:03,607 --> 00:54:05,675 IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICAL RHETORIC. 1081 00:54:05,675 --> 00:54:08,912 IT'S ABOUT SOMEONE WHO IS A LEADER AND HAS EXHIBITED THE 1082 00:54:08,912 --> 00:54:11,781 EVIDENCE OF THAT LEADERSHIP. THAT WANTS TO HELP OUR SCHOOL. 1083 00:54:11,781 --> 00:54:14,718 WANTS TO HELP OUR FAMILIES THAT WANTS TO GROW OUR STATE. 1084 00:54:14,718 --> 00:54:16,519 IN THE WAY THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN. 1085 00:54:16,519 --> 00:54:19,756 THAT WANTS TO RESTORE THE VALUE OF EDUCATION. 1086 00:54:19,756 --> 00:54:23,426 I AM THAT PERSON, I WOULD INVITE THE VIEWERS TO CHECK 1087 00:54:23,426 --> 00:54:26,863 OUT DEBBIE FOR IDAHO E.COM. CHECK ALL OF US OUT. 1088 00:54:26,863 --> 00:54:29,599 KNOW WHO YOU'RE GETTING, KNOW WHERE YOU WANT TO GO AND 1089 00:54:29,599 --> 00:54:32,335 CHOOSE YOUR LEADER WISELY. THANK YOU. 1090 00:54:32,335 --> 00:54:33,570 >> Aaron Kunz: FINALLY, SUPERINTENDENT YBARRA. 1091 00:54:33,570 --> 00:54:35,538 >> Sherri Ybarra: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 1092 00:54:35,538 --> 00:54:40,343 TO THE LISTENERS TONIGHT, FOR WATCHING THIS ENTIRE DEBATE, 1093 00:54:40,343 --> 00:54:42,545 WHAT WE HAVE IN IDAHO IS A GREAT STATE. 1094 00:54:42,545 --> 00:54:44,648 A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY. 1095 00:54:44,648 --> 00:54:48,018 A GREAT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. AND WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE 1096 00:54:48,018 --> 00:54:50,754 EVERYONE KEEPS MOVING HERE TO OUR LITTLE SECRET. 1097 00:54:50,754 --> 00:54:53,657 OUR PLACE THAT WE CALL IDAHO, HOME. 1098 00:54:53,657 --> 00:54:58,261 I CARE VERY DEEPLY ABOUT OUR OVER 300,000 STUDENTS IN OUR 1099 00:54:58,261 --> 00:55:00,764 EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, AND ALL OF THE PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE OVER 1100 00:55:00,764 --> 00:55:03,633 THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. AND I KNOW IDAHOANS WANT TO 1101 00:55:03,633 --> 00:55:07,570 CONTINUE TO SEE OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE AND EXCEL. 1102 00:55:07,570 --> 00:55:11,808 OUR OVER 300,000 STUDENTS DESERVE AN EXPERIENCED LEADER 1103 00:55:11,808 --> 00:55:15,278 LIKE MYSELF HOE HAS THE TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS, THE 1104 00:55:15,278 --> 00:55:18,782 EXPERTISE OF A LIFELONG EDUCATOR, THE ONE WHO ALREADY 1105 00:55:18,782 --> 00:55:21,418 HAS A STRONG TEAM IN PLACE AND A LEADER WHO HAS THE HEART OF 1106 00:55:21,418 --> 00:55:25,355 A MOTHER TO DO THIS JOB. I LOVE MY JOB AS STATE 1107 00:55:25,355 --> 00:55:27,257 SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION IN IDAHO AND I 1108 00:55:27,257 --> 00:55:31,394 WOULD BE HONORED TO REPRESENT YOU ONCE AGAIN AS IDAHO'S 1109 00:55:31,394 --> 00:55:33,129 25th SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 1110 00:55:33,129 --> 00:55:39,436 AND LIKE THE KIDS SAY, PLEASE VOTE FOR SHERI IN THE PRIMARY. 1111 00:55:39,436 --> 00:55:41,638 >> Aaron Kunz: WELL, THANK YOU TO THE CANDIDATES FOR THE TIME 1112 00:55:41,638 --> 00:55:43,106 TONIGHT. IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO STAND 1113 00:55:43,106 --> 00:55:45,542 THERE AND TAKE TOUGH QUESTIONS, WE APPRECIATE THE 1114 00:55:45,542 --> 00:55:47,143 TIME YOU HAVE SPENT WITH US TONIGHT. 1115 00:55:47,143 --> 00:55:50,714 AS WELL AS TO THE REPORTERS WHO ASKED GREAT QUESTIONS, AND 1116 00:55:50,714 --> 00:55:54,284 TO OUR VIEWERS AT HOME, JUST A QUICK REMINDER, IT IS MAY 1117 00:55:54,284 --> 00:55:56,720 17th THE DAY TO LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. 1118 00:55:56,720 --> 00:55:58,855 SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE AT THE POLLS. 1119 00:55:58,855 --> 00:56:04,561 YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATES ON OUR WEBSITE, 1120 00:56:04,561 --> 00:56:06,629 IDAHOPTV.ORG/ELECTIONS. THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US. 1121 00:56:06,629 --> 00:56:10,400 WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT FOR THE 1122 00:56:10,400 --> 00:56:13,002 SECRETARY OF STATE DEBATE, 8:00, BOTH MOUNTAIN AND 1123 00:56:13,002 --> 00:56:14,637 PACIFIC. THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US. 1124 00:56:14,637 --> 00:56:19,609 GOOD NIGHT. 1125 00:56:19,609 --> 00:56:19,642 Captioning Performed By LNS Captioning ¶www.LNScaptioning.com 1126 00:56:26,950 --> 00:56:30,386 >> IDAHO DEBATES IS ORGANIZED BY THESE PARTNERS. 1127 00:56:30,386 --> 00:56:32,722 FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC 1128 00:56:32,722 --> 00:56:35,158 TELEVISION. THE IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION 1129 00:56:35,158 --> 00:56:39,095 ENDOWMENT, AND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.