>> WELCOME TO THE IDAHO
DEBATES.
TONIGHT, THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY CANDIDATES FOR
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION.
THE IDAHO DEBATES IS ORGANIZED
BY THESE PARTNERS.
FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE
FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION, THE IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION ENDOWMENT, AND CAN
THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC
BROADCASTING.
>> WELCOME TO THE IDAHO
DEBATES AT THE IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION STUDIOS.
THIS IS THE SECOND DEBATE
WE'RE HOSTING BEFORE THE MAY
17th PRIMARY ELECTION.
TONIGHT THE THREE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES FOR SUPERINTENDENT
TAKE TO THE STAGE TO ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE.
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION OVERSEES
OPERATIONS AT THE IDAHO
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND IS
A CHAMPION FOR EDUCATION
ACROSS THE STATE.
THE WINNER OF THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY WILL FACE DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE TERRY GILBERT IN THE
NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.
I WANT TO WELCOME THE
CANDIDATES, BRANDEN DURST,
DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD, AND SHERRI
YBARRA.
DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER BRANDEN
DURST SERVEDDED IN IDAHO HOUSE
FOR TWO TERMS AND THE IDAHO
SENATE FOR ONE YEAR.
HE CURRENTLY WORKS AS A
MEDIATOR.
DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD SERVED AS
THE PRESIDENT OF THE IDAHO
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR
TWO YEARS, AFTER BEING
APPOINTED TO THE BOARD IN
2014.
SHE IS ALSO SERVED ON THE
COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
AND INCUMBENT SUPERINTENDENT
OF INSTRUCTION SHERRI YBARRA
IS SERVING HER THIRD TERM IN
OFFICE, PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED
SHE WORKED IN THE MOUNTAIN
HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT.
CAR LIEN DAVIS VOLUNTEER
TIMEKEEPERS FROM THE LEAGUE OF
WOMEN VOTERS.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE GIVEN
90 SECONDS FOR OPENING
COMMENTS, AND 60 SECONDS FOR
CLOSING STATEMENTS.
WE DREW NUMBERS A FEW MINUTES
AGO TO SEE WHO WOULD GO FIRST.
AND SENATOR DURST, YOU HAVE
THAT HONOR.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS
DEBATE TODAY.
THE NEXT HOUR YOU'RE GOING TO
HEAR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TWO
COMPETING VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE
OF IDAHO SCHOOLS.
THE LADIES TO MY LEFT WILL
PROVIDE A VISION THAT'S BASED
ON INSIDER VIEWS, THE BELIEFS
THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS KNOW
BEST AND BELIEVE WE SHUT
DOUBLE DOWN ON A SYSTEM OF
EDUCATION THAT HASN'T WORKED
FOR SO MANY FAMILIES.
MY VISION, THE VISION OF AN
OUTSIDER IS VERY DIFFERENT.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO THINGS
DIFFERENTLY.
I THINK WE NEED TO PUT PARENTS
BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF
THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GET
GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY, AND
LET PARENTS -- WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF STAKE.
WE'VE ALL SEEN THE THINGS
HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.
CRITICAL RACE THEORY, SOCIAL
JUSTICE DOCTRINATION, THE
SEXUALIZATION OF OUR STUDENTS.
I HAVE PLANS AND I'VE GOT THE
ABILITY TO MAKE SERIOUS
CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE
TO FIX OUR SCHOOLS, AND TO
HELP ALL OF OUR STUDENTS
SUCCEED.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE
HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES IS IF
WE'RE SATISFIED WITH OUR
CURRENT EDUCATION SYSTEM.
IF WE ARE, ONE OF THE INSIDERS
WOULD BE A GREAT CHOICE.
BUT IF YOU BELIEVE WE NEED TO
DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, IF YOU
BELIEVE WE NEED TO GET BACK TO
TRUSTING PARENTS AGAIN, MY
NAME IS BRANDEN DURST AND I
WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO
BE YOUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SENATOR DURST.
UP NEXT, MRS. CRITCHFIELD.
>> Debbie Critchfield: THANK
YOU, GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD,
MY HUSBAND AND DAVE AND I ARE
FOURTH-GENERATION FARMERS IN
THE MAGIC VALLEY WHERE OUR
FOUR CHILDREN ATTENDED PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
I WAS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, A
GED INSTRUCTOR FOR CSI AND A
10-YEAR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS HAVE
BEEN THE PUBLIC INFORMATION
OFFICER AND COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT OFFICER.
IN 2014, I WAS APPOINTED TO
IDAHO'S BOARD OF EDUCATION BY
GOVERNOR OTTER, AND THEN LATER
APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR LITTLE.
IT'S BECAUSE OF MY SERVICE
OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS THAT
I HAVE HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT AT
THE STATE EDUCATION TABLE AND
I CAN TELL YOU, IT'S TIME FOR
A CHANGE.
I'M RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE
BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS DESERVE
MORE.
I'M RUNNING BECAUSE OUR
PARENTS EXPECT MORE AND OUR
KIDS NEED MORE.
GREAT SCHOOLS MATTER FOR
IDAHO.
THE CORE OF MY VISION PUTS
SKILLS AND WORK READINESS AT
THE CENTER OF AN IDAHO
EDUCATION.
AND IT BEGINS WITH A STRONG
START.
WHEN OUR KIDS CAN READ AND
CONTINUES THROUGHOUT AS WE
PREPARE OUR STUDENTS AND KIDS
FOR THEIR LIVES AND THEIR
CAREERS, AND IT MUST TAKE IN A
COMPONENT OF FINANCIAL
LITERACY.
WE NEED ENGAGED PARENTS AND WE
NEED TO PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH
THE RESOURCES AND SKILLS AND
TOOLS THEY HAVE FOR THE MODERN
CLASSROOM, AND YOU NEED A
SUPERINTENDENT THAT WILL
LISTEN, WORK, AND ACT.
I HAVE THE SKILLS, BACKGROUND,
EXPERIENCE, AND EDUCATION TO
BE ABLE TO FILL THIS ROLE.
AND I WILL LEAD ON DAY ONE.
>> Aaron Kunz: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
FINALLY, SUPERINTENDENT
YBARRA.
>> Sherri Ybarra: FIRST OF
ALL, LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING
THANK YOU TO IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION, THE PANEL TONIGHT,
AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK
DIRECTLY TO THE AUDIENCE OF
IDAHO AND THE VOTERS ABOUT WHY
I'M ASKING FOR ANOTHER TERM AS
YOUR 25th SUPERINTENDENT I
LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST SEVEN
YEARS AND ALL THE PROGRESS OUR
STUDENTS HAVE MADE IN
EDUCATION, WE ARE LEADING THIS R
EXAMPLE, OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM
HAS BEEN RANKED 31st IN THE
PAST.
WE HAVE NOW MOVED TO 17th IN
THE NATION FOR ACHIEVEMENT.
WE'VE BEEN RANKED NUMBER ONE
FOR COLLEGE CREDITS EARNED
WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE
ARE FIFTH IN THE NATION FOR
COLLEGE AND CAREER READY AND
OUR FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE
IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
I HAVE SECURED NEARLY
$100 MILLION OF NEW MONEY
SINCE I TOOK OFFICE IN THIS
POSITION.
UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE
BROUGHT OUR EDUCATIONAL PLAN
TO LIFE AND I AM THE ONLY
CANDIDATE ON THIS STAGE
TONIGHT THAT IS A CERTIFIED
K-12 TEACHER, A PRINCIPAL, A
SUPERINTENDENT, AND NOW YOUR
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION.
I KNOW THAT OUR OVER 300,000
STUDENTS IN IDAHO DESERVE AN
EXPERIENCED LEADER LIKE MYSELF
THAT CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THEIR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EVERYTHING
THAT THEY'VE DONE UP TO THIS
POINT OVER THE LAST SEVEN
YEARS.
I HAVE RESPONSIBLY HANDLED A
NEARLY -- AN OVER$2 BILLION
BUDGET I HAVE THE STRONG TEAM
IN PLACE TO MOVE FORWARD AND
TAKE US TO THE TOP 10 IN THIS
NATION.
I LOVE MY JOB, AND I HUMBLING
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ONCE
AGAIN AS IDAHO'S
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION.
>> Aaron Kunz: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE OPENING
STATEMENTS.
NOW LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE
QUESTIONS, FOR THAT WE GO TO
KEVIN RICHERT WITH THE FIRST
QUESTION FOR SENATOR DURST.
>> Kevin Richert: SENATOR
DURST, YOU WOULD BE THE FIRST
FORMER LEGISLATOR ELECTED
STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
YOU'VE TOUTED THAT AS AN
ADVANTAGE, BUT IDAHO HAS A
LONG HISTORY OF ELECTING SUIT
SUPERINTENDENTS WHO HAVE AN
EDUCATION BACKGROUND AND AN
UNDERSTANDING OF THE
CLASSROOM.
HOW WOULD YOU STRIKE THE
BALANCE BETWEEN POLITICAL
BACKGROUND AND AN
UNDERSTANDING MUCH CLASSROOM
WHEN YOU HAVE NO EDUCATION
BACKGROUND OF YOUR OWN?
>> Branden Durst: I DO HAVE AN
EDUCATION BACKGROUND.
THE NEXT TWO WEEKS I'LL HAVE
AN EDUCATION SPECIALIST DEGREE
IN EXECUTIVE EDUCATION
LEADERSHIP, AND I'VE BEEN AN
INSTRUCTOR IN CORE CURRICULUM
DEVELOPER.
WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS THAT
WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND ONE OF THE
REASONS THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE HAS
BEEN SO INFURTHER AND SO
INFECTIVE, NOT JUST IN THIS
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, BUT IN
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, IS
BECAUSE OF A LACK OF
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW STATE
GOVERNMENT WORKS AND A LACK OF
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN IDAHO.
THERE'S NO -- THERE SHOULD BE
NO QUESTION AS TO WHY SO MANY
STATES WHO CURRENTLY ELECT
THEIR SUPERINTENDENTS FOLLOW
THE SAME PATH I HAVE FOLLOWED.
THEY BELIEVE WE -- YOU NEED TO
UNDERSTAND THE TOTALITY OF
STATE GOVERNMENT AS I DO, AND
HAVING A MASTER'S DEGREE IN
PUBLIC POLICY, HAVING A
SPECIALIST DEGREE IN
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND
HAVING THE DIVERSE BACKGROUND
I HAVE FREQUENT PAIRS ME TO DO
THAT.
IF WE WANT TO DO THINGS
DIFFERENTLY IN THE STATE, WE
HAVE TO LET DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CANDIDATES.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO GO DOWN
TO THE SAME PATH, KEVIN,
YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE HAD CONTINUED TO ELECT
FOLKS WITH EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE, BUT THAT HASN'T
WORKED.
WE'VE NEVER ELECTED A STATE
SUPERINTENDENT THAT HAS GOT
LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE, AND I
THINK THAT'S A MISTAKE.
WE DO THAT FOR OUR GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, WE
DO THAT FOR OUR CONGRESSMEN
AND SENATORS, BUT NEVER FOR A
STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
AND I THINK IT'S TIME WE TRY A
DIFFERENT APPROACH AND GET
BETTER RESULTS AS A RESULT.
"RUNAWAY" YOU SERVED IN THE
LEGISLATURE AS A DEMOCRAT, YOU
RAN FOR WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE
IN 2016 AS A DEMOCRAT.
YOU RAN FOR BOISE SCHOOL
BOARD, A NONPARTISAN RACE IN
2018.
NOW YOU'RE RUNNING AS A
REPUBLICAN FOR STATE
SUPERINTENDENT.
ARE YOU A POLITICAL GADFLY?
>> Branden Durst: YOU CAN SEE
THE VAST NUMBER OF
ENDORSEMENTS I'VE HAD IN THIS
CASE COME FROM THE
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS IN
IDAHO.
THEY DON'T HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
MY FORMER PARTY AFFILIATION
BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE AS A
KARATE VOTED LIKE A
REPUBLICAN.
IN 2013, I WAS ONE OF THE MOST
CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE
STATE SENATE INCLUDING
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
I'D RATHER HAVE BEEN A
DEMOCRAT AND VOTED LIKE A
REPUBLICAN THAN THE OTHER WAY
AROUND.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S THE BRAND
OF REPUBLICANISM SO MANY
PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPORTING
MS. CRITCHFIELD FOLLOW.
SO THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE WE
HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A
DIFFERENT APPROACH.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE
THAT.
AND LOOK, AGAIN, LOOK WHO'S
ENDORSED MY CAMPAIGN.
SOME OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE
GROUPS IN THE STATE OF IDAHO,
SOME OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE
LEGISLATORS IN THE STATE OF
IDAHO.
IN FACT, I JUST RECEIVED WORD
THE ENDORSEMENT OF RIGHT TO
LIFE OF IDAHO AS WELL BECAUSE
OF MY 100% PRO-LIFE VOTING
RECORD.
I'VE GOT A CALL FOR SERVICE.
I BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN CALLED
TO SERVE IN A ROLE OF PUBLIC
SERVICE AND CERTAINLY I RUN
FOR OFFICE BECAUSE OF THAT.
BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THERE'S A
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE AS
CITIZENS TO STEP UP AND USE
OUR GIFTS IN A WAY THAT ARE
EFFECTIVE.
AND I'M CHOOSING TO DO THAT
VERY THING.
I'M GIVING THE STATE OF IDAHO
AND THE PEOPLE OF IDAHO AND
ESPECIALLY THE CONSERVATIVES
OF IDAHO A CHOICE WHERE THEY
WOULDN'T HAVE ONE IF I WEREN'T
RUNNING.
THEY HAVE A CONSERVATIVE
CHOICE NOW AND THEY CAN VOTE
>> Kevin Richert: MRS. CRITCHF
IELD, IN ONE KEY PIECE OF THE
STATE BOARD'S AGENDA, THE
SEVEN YEARS YOU WERE ON THE
BOARD, WAS THE 60%
POST-SECONDARY COMPLETION
GOAL.
THE STATE MADE LITTLE PROGRESS
ON THAT GOAL, AND BASICALLY
ABANDONED THE GOAL.
GIVEN THAT KIND OF FAILURE ON
THAT FRONT, HOW WOULD YOU
ASSURE VOTERS THAT YOU CAN SET
PRIORITIES AND SEE PRIORITIES
THROUGH IF ELECTED STATE
SUPERINTENDENT?
>> Debbie Critchfield: THAT
GOAL WAS SET PRIOR TO ME
COMING ONTO THE BOARD AND IT
BECAME PART OF A CONVERSATION
THAT OUR BOARD HAS HAD FOR
MANY YEARS.
I BELIEVE THE FAILURE HAS BEEN
IN THE K-12 ARENA.
WHAT WE SEE IS STUDENTS
CHOOSING OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES
THE TRADITIONAL COLLEGE
TRAJECTORY.
AND THAT'S OKAY.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO ARE
CREATE -- TRANSFORM HOW WE
HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL
EXPERIENCE, HOW WE PROVIDE
CREDIT.
IN OTHER WAYS, RATHER THAN THE
TRADITIONAL WAYS.
AND HOW WE PROVIDE THE
RELEVANCY.
AND SO AS WE LOOK TO MATCHING
THE SKILLS, THE NEEDS, THE
ABILITIES OF WHAT OUR STUDENTS
WOULD LIKE TO DO, AND WHAT
WE'RE CURRENT BELY DOING, WE
SEE A TREMENDOUS MISMATCH.
SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO ME
AT ALL THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT
NUMBER DECLINE, BECAUSE WE'VE
NEEDED THE LEADERSHIP IN THE
K-12 ARENA.
AS YOU KNOW, THE BOARD IS A
POLICY MAKING BOARD AND THE
IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD HAVE
FALLEN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION.
>> Kevin Richert: BUT THE
STATE BOARDS CREATES POLICY AT
THE K-12 LEVEL AS WELL AS THE
HIGHER EDUCATION LEVEL.
TO WHAT EXTENT DOES THE STATE
BOARD OWN THE PROBLEMS AT THE
K-12 LEVEL YOU'RE CITING?
>> Debbie Critchfield: BECAUSE
OF THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF
THE BOARD, THERE IS A
CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER THAT IS
THERE TO IMPLEMENT, THAT IS
THERE TO COME AND BRING IDEAS,
AND THIS IS HOW WE NEED TO
ADDRESS THAT.
AND THAT WAS COMPLETELY
MISSING OR LATE.
>> Kevin Richert: SUPERINTENDE
NT YBARRA, YOU TALKED ABOUT
SOME NUMBERS, BUT NOT ALL THE
NUMBERS IN THE K-12 ARENA ARE
AS ROSY.
51% OF K-3 STUDENTS READ AT
GRADE LEVEL.
THE RATES HAVE FALLEN DURING
THE PANDEMIC, AND THE STATE
HAS FAILED TO MEET MOST OF THE
BENCHMARKS THE STATE
ESTABLISHED UNDER THE EVERY
STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT.
GIVEN THOSE NUMBERS, WHY
SHOULD VOTERS BELIEVE YOU
WOULD HAVE MORE SUCCESS IN THE
THIRD TERM THAN YOU'VE IN THE
IN THE FIRST TWO?
>> Sherri Ybarra: THOSE
NUMBERS ARE NOT MY NUMBERS.
THEY ARE A THIRD-PARTY'S
NUMBERS THAT HAVE RANKED OUR
STATE.
AND THEY ARE ALL SOMETHING FOR
IDAHOANS TO BE PROUD OF.
I TRULY BELIEVE IDAHO IS
LOOKING FOR THE BEST
CANDIDATE, WHICH IS A PUBLIC
EDUCATION CANDIDATE, NOT
SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO STAND
ON THE STAGE AND POKE TEACHERS
AND BLAME THEM FOR ALL THE
K-12 AILS OR SAY THEY SHOWED
UP LATE TO THE PARTY AND OF
COURSE THEY WERE A TEACHER,
THEY'RE GETTING A DEGREE, AT
SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES.
I THINK IDAHO I WOULD CAUTION
YOU TO BE VERY CAREFUL AS WE
MOVE FORWARD, AND UNDERSTAND
THAT WE ALREADY MADE THAT
MISTAKE ONCE.
OF HIRING SOMEONE THAT WASN'T
A K-12 CERTIFIED CLASSROOM
TEACHER WITH EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCE.
I BELIEVE IDAHOANS ARE LOOKING
FOR A CONSERVATIVE LEADER THAT
IS RESULTS ORIENTED.
MY TRACK RECORD SPEAKS FOR
ITSELF.
YOU CANNOT ARGUE WITH THE
NUMBERS.
I THINK SOME OF THE NUMBERS
YOU'RE QUOTING RELATE TO, I'VE
HEARD MY OPPONENTS TRAVEL THE
STATE AND SAY, 60% OF OUR
FIRST GRADERS ARE NOT READING
ON GRADE LEVEL.
WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.
THEY'RE QUOTING ACTUALLY WHAT
THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH IS WHEN
OUR STUDENTS ARE TAKING THE
IDAHO READING INDICATOR,
THEY'RE COMING IN TO THAT
GRADE LEVEL MAYBE AT THAT
LEVEL, AND THEN THEY'RE
LEARNING TO READ AND LEAVING
THAT GRADE LEVEL 60% ON GRADE
LEVEL.
SO IDAHO HAS A LOT TO BE PROUD
OF.
THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY KEEPS
MOVING TO IDAHO, I DON'T THINK
ANYONE BELIEVES FOR ONE SPLIT
SECOND THAT OUR EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM IS BROKEN.
NOW, DO WE HAVE SOME WORK TO
DO?
ABSOLUTELY WE DO.
AND WE FOUND OUT DURING THE
PANDEMIC THAT OUR -- SOME OF
OUR LEARNERS THAT HAD ALREADY
HAD SOME OF THOSE GAPS STILL
NEED WORK.
THAT'S OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LEARNERS, OUR STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES, AND THAT'S WHY
I'M SEEING ANOTHER TERM.
BECAUSE I KNOW THE WORK THAT
NEEDS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED, TO
HELP OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE.
>> Kevin Richert: QUICKLY,
JUST A FOLLOW-UP, THE FIFTH IN
THE NATION RANKING YOU CITE,
IT'S A 2018 U.S. NEWS AND
WORLD RECORD ARTICLE, OR
STUDY, THAT REALLY MEASURES
HOW MANY STUDENTS TOOK THE
SAT.
AND STUDENTS IN IDAHO CAN TAKE
THE SAT FOR FREE.
AREN'T YOU CHERRY PICKING THE
NUMBERS?
>> Sherri Ybarra: ABSOLUTELY
NOT.
THOSE ARE OUR NUMBERS.
FROM A THIRD PARTY.
THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE.
THEY'RE COLLEGE AND CAREER
READY.
FIFTH IN THE NATION.
THRIFERS TO 17th IN THE
NATION FOR ACHIEVEMENT.
NUMBER ONE FOR COLLEGE CREDITS
EARNED WHILE STILL IN WHOM.
AND OUR STUDENTS DESERVE TO
HEAR HOW GREAT THEY'RE DOING
AND OUR EDUCATORS DESERVE TO
HEAR THAT TOO.
I'LL SHARE ANOTHER PIECE OF
INFORMATION, I'M SUPER EXCITED
TO TELL IDAHOANS ABOUT
TONIGHT, THE FACT I HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY ABOUT A MONTH AGO
TO SIT AROUND THE TABLE AND
LISTEN TO SOME OF OUR RESULTS
DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND OUR
KIDS WERE OUTPERFORMING NEARLY
MOST OF OUR PEERS IN OTHER
STATES, OR OUR SLIDEBACKS WERE
NOT NEARLY AS MINIMAL DURING
THE PANDEMIC.
WHY?
BECAUSE OUR SCHOOLS WERE OPEN
UNLIKE THE REST OF THE NATION.
OF COURSE WE SAW A SMALL
CLOSURE, BUT THAT'S WHY I RAN
MY IN-PERSON LEARNING BILL.
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS
DIDN'T CLOSE AGAIN, AND TO
MAKE SURE THAT IN-PERSON
LEARNING WAS THE NUMBER ONE
OPTION FOR OUR PARENTS AND OUR
STUDENTS.
AND IT WORKED.
IT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON
THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO
WORK ON, LIKE CLOSE THOSE
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS FOR OUR
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, FOR
OUR STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES, THOSE ARE ALL
THE THINGS AS A STATE
SUPERINTENDENT AND A FORMER
CLASSROOM TEACHER THAT I HAVE
THE EXPERTISE IN IN MOVING OUR
STATE FORWARD, AND I WANT TO
BE WITH IDAHOANS WHEN WE MAKE
IT TO TOP 10 IN THE NATION.
I'VE DONE THE JOB IDAHOANS
HAVE ASKED ME TO DO, AND I I
HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF
SUCCESS.
>> Aaron Kunz: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
NOW IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON, OUR
NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM BETSY
AND YOU'LL BE ADDRESSING
SENATOR DURST.
>> Betsy Russell: SENATOR
DURST, LET'S TALK ABOUT
WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
THIS SESSION YOU PRESENTED A
PARENTAL RIGHTS BILL YOU
COULDN'T EVEN GET PRINTED IN
THE SENATE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE.
AND AFTERWARDS YOU BECAME
ENGAGED IN A HEATED AND
PROFANE EXCHANGE WITH ONE OF
THE SENATE REPUBLICANS WHO
OPPOSED THE BILL THAT YOU HAD
PROPOSED.
BASED ON THIS EPISODE, HOW CAN
YOUR SUPPORTERS HAVE ANY
CONFIDENCE THAT YOU CAN
EFFECTIVELY GET THINGS DONE AT
THE STATE HOUSE?
>> Debbie Critchfield: DROIG
>> Branden Durst: THE TWO
SENATORS THAT -- SUPPORT
DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD, IF THAT
SHARES YOUR VISION WE COULD BE
RUNNING FOR THE HILLS.
THE REALITY IS, I -- THOSE TWO
SENATORS PUT POLITICS IN FRONT
OF PARENTS.
AND THAT'S WRONG.
YES, I GOT DEFENSIVE BECAUS I
TRUST PARENTS AND I'M A
DEFENDER OF PARENTS.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE
FOR THAT.
I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR
TRYING TO FIGHT FOR PARENTS
BECAUSE THEY NEED IT.
THEY'VE LIVED THROUGH TWO
YEARS OF A PANDEMIC WHERE
THEIR CHILDREN WERE FORCED TO
STAY HOME, WHERE THEY COULDN'T
CHOOSE WHETHER THEIR CHILDREN
WERE MASKED BECAUSE OF THE
POLICIES OF THE LADIES ON THE
STAGE.
THAT WAS WRONG.
AND I WAS TRYING TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THOSE TWO
SENATORS WILL FIND A DIFFERENT
PLACE TO WORK NEXT YEAR.
AND THEY WON'T BE IN THE
CAPITOL BUILDING.
YOU CAN LOOK NO FURTHER THAN
MY TRACK RECORD OF HAVING GET
LEGISLATION PASSED.
THE ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES
PROGRAM STARTED UNDER MY
LEADERSHIP, UNDER MY WRITING
OF THAT BILL.
THAT'S WHAT STARTED WITH IT.
IT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.
YET IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY
SUCCESSFUL.
THE NO PUBLIC FUNDS FOR
ABORTION ACT, I LED THE FIGHT
ON THAT AND HELPED DRAFT IT.
SO THERE'S PLENTY OF EXAMPLES
OF THINGS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH.
BUT WE NEED A FIGHTER FOR
PARENTS.
IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY THAT'S
GOING TO BE MILK TOAST AND
TAKE IT, I WANT TO POINT OUT
THERE'S NO PROFANITY FROM ME,
BY THE WAY.
IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS
GOING TO BE MILK TOAST AND NOT
FIGHT, I'M NOT YOUR GUY.
BUT IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO
FIGHT FOR YOU AS A PARENT, I'M
THE CANDIDATE FOR YOU.
>> CAN I RESPOND TO THAT?
THERE WAS PROFANITY.
I WAS IN THE SENATE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE THAT DAY, AND THERE
ABSOLUTELY WAS PROA FANCY.
>> Branden Durst: BY SENATOR
--
>> BY MY OPPONENT.
>> Branden Durst: YOU CAN SAY
THAT NOW, BUT PEOPLE WHO KNOW
ME KNOW I DON'T CURSE.
THAT'S FINE.
THE REALITY, SENATOR WOODWARD
AND CRABTREE BOTH ENGAGED IN
WHAT SHOULD BE DESPICABLE
BEHAVIOR BUT SENATE LEADERSHIP
SWEPT THAT UNDER THE RUG.
WE NEED A CHANGE IN
LEADERSHIP.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
>> Debbie Critchfield: I WOULD
LIKE TO RESPOND.
I THINK IT'S A POOR EXCUSE TO
BLAME PEOPLE FOR POOR
LEGISLATION.
I'M A PARENT OF -- FOR
MR. DURST, HE'S CLAIMED I'M A
PARENT.
SO AM I.
I'M A GRANDPARENT.
AND SO THERE'S NO OWNERSHIP
ABOUT WHO THE PARENT IN THIS
RACE.
AND THE INTERACTIONS WERE AND
ARE UNBECOMING OF SOMEONE THAT
WOULD HOLD THAT OFFICE.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE MR. DURST
ANSWERED THE QUESTION.
YOU SAID HOW WILL YOU OVERCOME
THAT?
HIS ANSWER WAS, I'M GOING TO
WORK TO GET RID OF THE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T LIKE ME.
I'M GOING TO WORK TO GET RID
OF THE PEOPLE WHO WON'T
SUPPORT MY LEGISLATION.
AND THEN HE TOUTED LEGISLATION
THAT HE HAD.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING THAT
WOULD EXHIBIT ANY TYPE OF
FACILITATION OF LEADERSHIP,
COOPERATION, WHICH IS WHAT'S
NEEDED IN THE LEGISLATURE IN
ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THESE
THINGS.
>> Betsy Russell: SENATOR
DURST YOU SAID YOU DO NOT
APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR BEHAVIOR.
THE ENTIRE SENATE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP PUBLICLY CRITICIZED
YOUR BEHAVIOR, CONDEMNED IT,
AND CALLED IT, QUOTE,
EGREGIOUS CONDUCT UNBECOMING
OF ANYONE, ESPECIALLY A FORMER
LEGISLATURE AND CURRENT
STATEWIDE POLITICAL CANDIDATE.
CAN YOU WORK WITH LAWMAKERS
AFTER THAT?
>> Branden Durst: LET'S LOOK
AT WHO THE MESSENGER IS.
>> Betsy Russell: THE ENTIRE
SENATE LEADERSHIP.
>> Branden Durst: THEY STOPPED
A BILL THIS SESSION TO PROTECT
PARENTS FROM PORNOGRAPHY IN
SCHOOLS.
THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE
COMING AFTER ME.
IF YOU CARE WHAT THEY THINK,
THAT'S GREAT.
BUT I DON'T.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TOE FIGHT
FOR PARENTS, TO PROTECT KIDS,
AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER
OR NOT A SENATOR IS UPSET WITH
ME OR NOT.
BUT I WOULD POINT OUT -- I DID
ANSWER THE QUESTION.
WE'VE GOTTEN MAJOR LEGISLATION
PASSED WITH MY LEADERSHIP.
NOT JUST WHILE I WAS A
LEGISLATOR, BUT WHILE I WAS A
PRIVATE CITIZEN.
AND THE FACT THAT THAT'S BEING
IGNORED BY MY OPPONENTS IS
FINE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE
TAKE-AWAY WE HAVE TO ASK
OURSELVES, ARE WE WILLING TO
BE FRIENDLY WITH THOSE WHO
FIGHT AGAINST FREEDOM?
THOSE WHO FIGHT AGAINST
PARENTAL RIGHTS?
THOSE WHO DON'T BELIEVE THAT
CHILDREN SHOULD BE KEPT FROM
PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, THAT'S
THE QUESTION.
AND I'M JUST FINE WITH
BEING -- I'M COMFORTABLE BEING
THE PERSON WHO STANDS UP HERE
TODAY AND SAYS NO, I'M NOT
WILLING TO BE IN BED WITH
THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE I BELIEVE
WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
I BELIEVE OUR PARENTS DESERVE
BETTER.
AND I BELIEVE OUR STUDENTS
DESERVE BETTER.
>> Betsy Russell: MARTIN
SCORSESE CRITCHFIELD, PLEASE
TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH THE
LEGISLATURE.
HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATURE?
>> Debbie Critchfield: EXACTLY
HOW I HAVE BEEN.
PARTICULARLY FOR TWO YEARS AS
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
AND I WANT TO POINT THIS OUT.
BRANDEN, I DON'T KNOW ANY
PERSON WHO BELIEVES
PORNOGRAPHY SHOULD BE IN A
SCHOOL.
YOU GO ASK.
IT WAS FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND
IT WAS POOR LEGISLATION.
SO REFINE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO
DO.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF BILLS
TO SUPPORT THESE TYPES OF
THINGS.
THE PROCESS IS DESIGNED TO GET
THROUGH ALL 105 MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATURE AND THEN SIGNED BY
THE GOVERNOR.
AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
BILLS.
I'LL GO ON TO THIS.
SO WE HAVE GOT TO, AND I
BELIEVE AS A STATE
SUPERINTENDENT, ONE OF MY --
ONE OF THE PRIORITIES I HAVE
IS TO REESTABLISH US WITH OUR
LEGISLATURE.
I BELIEVE THEY HAVE NOT HAD
TRUST IN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
OFFICER, AND THAT'S EXHIBITED
BY ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
AND OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS
I'VE CREATED THE
RELATIONSHIPS, I HAVE WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHO
DON'T SUPPORT ME BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT YOU DO AS AN
ADULT.
YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK
WITH PEOPLE, WHERE THE COMMON
GROUND IS, WHAT ARE THE
OUTCOMES, WHAT ARE THE GOALS
WE'RE TRYING TO MEET, AND HOW
DO WE TAKE ALL THOSE IN?
IT'S NOT JUST THE LEGISLATURE.
BUT IT'S OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
AND HOW YOU DO THAT IS
CRITICAL TO THE ADVOCACY AND
HOW WE CHAMPION FROM THE TOP
FOR OUR PARENTS, FOR OUR KIDS,
FOR OUR TEACHERS, OUR
COMMUNITIES.
>> Betsy Russell: SUPERINTENDE
NT YBARRA, ON WORKING ARE THE
LEGISLATURE, YOU HAVE BEEN IN
OFFICE FOR SEVEN YEARS, CAN
YOU POINT TO A LEGISLATIVE
INITIATIVE, PURELY YOUR OWN,
NOT A GUBERNATORIAL
INITIATIVE, THAT YOU HAVE
GOTTEN THROUGH BOTH HOUSES?
>> Sherri Ybarra: ABSOLUTELY.
MY IN-PERSON LEARNING BILL GOT
THROUGH BOTH HOUSES.
MASTERY-BASED EDUCATION,
CIVICS RESOLUTION.
I HAVE GOTTEN OVER 200 -- THIS
YEAR, THE HISTORIC
INVESTMENTS, MY TRACK RECORD
SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, OVER
200 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE
GENERAL FUND FOR EDUCATION IN
IDAHO THIS YEAR WAS
SPECTACULAR.
AND I HAD A GROUP OF
LEGISLATORS STANDING ON THE
STEPS OF THE CAPITOL WHEN WE
MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TOGETHER
AS A TEAM, THAT WE FINALLY GOT
RID OF THE COMMON CORE IN
IDAHO LIKE THE VOTERS OF IDAHO
HAVE ASKED ME TO DO.
WE DID THAT WHEN I FIRST TOOK
OFFICE, WE HAD AN IDAHO
STANDARDS CHALLENGE.
BUT AGAIN, THE VOTERS WERE
STILL NOT HAPPY AND IT WAS
TIME TO LOOK AT THOSE AGAIN,
AND AGAIN WE HAD LOTS OF
EDUCATORS AND STAKEHOLDERS
WORKING ON THAT GROUP.
AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT MOMENT
IN TIME, AND PROVES THAT I DO
GET THE JOB DONE.
UNFORTUNATELY MY OPPONENTS ARE
SHOWING UP AND THERE HAS TO BE
SOMETHING WRONG WITH
EDUCATION, THERE HAS TO BE
SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE
LEADERSHIP IN ORDER FOR THEM
TO PROVE THEY'RE ONE OF THE
BEST CANDIDATES ON THE STAGE.
WITH NO TRACK RECORD, NO
EXPERIENCE, AND NO
CERTIFICATION.
AND IDAHO'S CLASSROOMS, YOU
WILL FINALLY SEE AT THE END OF
THIS DEBATE WHY THEY'RE GOING
DOWN THAT PATH.
BUT I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK
RECORD OF SUCCESS.
>> Aaron Kunz: BETSY,
FOLLOW-UP?
>> Betsy Russell: NO.
ACHE JAKOB?
>> Jakob Thorington: SENATOR
DURST, YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU
OPPOSE THE INCREASED LITERACY
BUDGET AND ALL-DAY
KINDERGARTEN LAW THAT PASSED
IN THE LEGIN THE LEGISLATIVE SED
YOU NO LONGER SUPPORT EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS
EARLY LITERACY?
>> Branden Durst: ONE OF THE
REASONS I OPPOSED THE BILL HAS
COME TO FRUITION.
WHICH IS THAT NOW PARENTS ARE
BEING FORCED TO SEND THEIR
CHILDREN TO FULL-DAY
KINDERGARTEN WHEN THEY DON'T
WANT TO.
I THOUGHT -- THAT WAS EXACTLY
WHAT I PREDICTED WOULD HAPPEN.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
WHAT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE
DONE AND WHAT I SUPPORTED WAS
PUTTING MONEY IN THE HANDS OF
PARENTS SO THEY COULD MAKE A
DECISION AS TO WHETHER
CHILDREN WENT TO SCHOOL AND
FOR HOW LONG.
THAT WILL -- THAT'S NOT JUST
ABOUT THE KINDERGARTEN, THAT'S
ALSO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS
THROUGHOUT THEIR K-12
EXPERIENCE.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO GET BACK
TO TRUSTING PARENTS AGAIN.
AND PART OF TRUSTING PARENTS
IS TRUSTING THEM WITH THE
RESOURCES TO DECIDE WHERE
THEY'RE CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL.
A CHILD AND A PARENT SHOULDN'T
BE STUCK ON THE SCHOOL THAT'S
ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR ZIP CODE
OR THE SIZE OF THEIR BANK
ACCOUNT.
PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO
CHOOSE ANY SCHOOL THAT FITS
THEIR CHILDREN'S NEEDS, NOT
JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD
TO DO OTHERWISE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE
HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE IS ABOUT
TONIGHT AND ON MAY 17th, IF
WE WANT MORE OF THE SAME.
DO WE WANT TO GO SOMEPLACE
DIFFERENT?
DO WE WANT DIFFERENT
SOLUTIONS?
IF WE DO, WE NEED TO FIND A
DIFFERENT KIND OF PERSON,
SOMEONE WHO WILL FIGHT FOR
PARENTS, THE NEEDS OF
STUDENTS.
AND NOT JUST SAY AND SPOUT OFF
NUMBERS THAT SAY HOW GREAT OUR
SCHOOLS ARE.
IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU
SHOULD REELECT SUPERINTENDENT
YBARRA.
AS A PARENT, I DON'T SEE IT.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THOUSANDS
OF PARENTS THROUGHOUT IDAHO
WHO DON'T BELIEVE IT EITHER.
WE NEED CONSERVATIVE
LEADERSHIP AND THAT'S WHAT I'M
>> Jakob Thorington: MRS. CRIT
CHFIELD, ABOUT 40% OF
KINDERGARTENERS SCORED AT
GRADE LEVEL IN THE FALL 2021,
IDAHO INDICATOR.
ARE THE STATE'S CHRONICALLY
LOW FALL KINDERGARTEN READING
SCORES A CONCERN FOR YOU, AND
IF THEY ARE, HOW WOULD YOU
ADDRESS THEM AND IF THEY ARE
NOT CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY?
>> Debbie Critchfield: I
ABSOLUTELY DO BELIEVE IT IS A
CONCERN, AND IT IS AN AREA
THAT WE NEED ATTENTION TO.
AND HOW WE SUPPORT WHAT
PARENTS ARE DOING AT HOME.
AND I WANT TO CORRECT
SOMETHING THAT MR. DURST SAID.
THERE'S NO LAW THAT COMPELS A
PARENT TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO
FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.
IT IS STILL A PARENT'S CHOICE.
IN FACT, THE LEGAL
REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR FIRST
GRADE.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO SEND
YOUR CHILD TO KINDERGARTEN IF
YOU DIDN'T WANT TO DO
FULL-DAY.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW WE
PREPARE OUR STUDENTS, IT
ABSOLUTELY HAS TO TAKE IN HOW
WE HELP THEM AT THE EARLIEST
LEVELS, HOW WE HELP SUPPORT
WHAT PARENTS ARE DOING IN THE
EDUCATION THAT'S TAKING PLACE,
WHETHER IT'S AT HOME OR IN
DAYCARES OR CHURCHES, OR IN
PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE EARLY
LEARNING WAS DESIGNED TO DO.
IT WAS DESIGNED TO PUT BOOKS
INTO THE HANDS OF PARENTS THAT
WERE CHOSEN BY CHURCHES, BY
LIBRARIES, BY HOSPITALS.
AND BOARDS THAT WORK TOGETHER.
THIS -- IF WE'RE GOING TO BE
SUCCESSFUL THROUGHOUT THE
EDUCATIONAL SPECTRUM AND GET
OUR KIDS READING AT THIRD
GRADE, WHICH I KNOW IS THIS
AGE WHICH CAN I THINK IS TOO
LATE AND TOO NARROW, WE
ABSOLUTELY NEED TO FOCUS ON
THAT EARLY PREPARATION AND HOW
WE SUPPORT PARENTS IN THAT.
>> Branden Durst: WHEN
MRS. CRITCHFIELD SAYS IT'S NOT
A REQUIREMENT, SHE MAY BE
CORRECT, BUT THAT'S LIKE HER
SAYING PARENTS ALREADY HAVE
CHOICE IN SCHOOL WHEN THEY
DON'T.
IF YOU'RE IN THE WEST ADA
SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE BOISE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOUR NEXT
FALL RIGHT NOW THE PLAN IS IF
YOU DON'T GO TO FULL-DAY
KINDERGARTEN, YOU DON'T GET TO
GO TO KINDERGARTEN AT ALL.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FACT
THAT HALF-DAY PROGRAMS HAVE
BEEN LARGELY ELIMINATED.
BE.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED SOME POLICY
BACKGROUND THAT CAN SEE THE
HOLES AND UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES OF SOME OF THE
THINGS WILL HAPPEN WHEN
LEGISLATION IS PROPOSED.
>> Sherri Ybarra: IF I MAY
CORRECT BOTH OPPONENTS, THAT
NEW LEGISLATION IS OPTIONAL
FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.
I BELIEVE IZZAT IBRAHIM
AL-DOURIIANS WANT A
CONSERVATIVE -- IDAHOANS WANT
A CONSERVATIVE LEADER, NO
MATTER WHAT INITIATIVE COMES
FORWARD WILL PROTECT LOCAL
CONTROL.
THAT WAS ONE OF MY TOP
PRIORITIES IS MAKING SURE THAT
ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN WAS
OPIONAL.
BUT IT WAS BASED ON THOSE
STATISTICS THAT ONE OF THE
PANELISTS MENTIONED EARLIER.
WE KNOW THAT OVER 60% OF OUR
KINDERGARTENERS ARE NOT
PREPARED AS THEY'RE COMING
FROM -- THROUGH THE DOOR FOR
KINDERGARTEN.
BUT WE WANTED TO OFFER THAT
RESOURCES TO PARENTS IF THEY
KNEW THEIR CHILD WAS SLIGHTLY
BEHIND.
ALSO AS A FORMER THIRD GRADE
TEACHER, THIS IS NEAR AND
KERRY TO MY HEART.
ONE OF MY GOALS IS MAKING SURE
OUR STUDENTS ARE ON GRADE
LEVEL, BY THIRD GRADE FOR
READING.
WE KNOW AS EDUCATORS WHEN KIDS
COME INTO KINDERGARTEN WITH A
GAP THAT'S ALREADY WIDE IN
ACHIEVEMENT IT'S LIKELY JUST
TO GET WIDER.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
CLOSE THAT GAP EARLY SO THE
TIME KIDS GET TO THIRD GRADE,
THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SUCCEED JUST LIKE THEIR PEERS.
SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO LET
THE VOTERS OUT THERE KNOW THAT
ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN IS
OPTIONAL FOR THE STATE OF
IDAHO.
>> Aaron Kunz: DID YOU WANT A
QUICK FOLLOW-UP?
>> Debbie Critchfield: I WANT
TO CLARIFY THE WE, THE ALL-DAY
K EFFORT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY
AN EDUCATION TASK FORCE THAT I
COCHAIRED FOR GOVERNOR LITTLE.
AND THE GOVERNOR IS WHAT HAS
BROUGHT THIS FORWARD, AND I
THINK THAT UNDERSCORES, AGAIN,
WHO IS IT THAT IS DRIVING
EDUCATION, WHO SHOULD BE AND
WHO IS DOING IT.
>> Sherri Ybarra: MY OPPONENT
HAS NO IDEA WHO BRINGS THINGS
FORWARD.
THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT STAND IN
FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND
PASS LEGISLATION.
I AM THE ONE WHO ASKS FOR IT
IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET,
AND MADE SURE THAT HAPPENED
THIS YEAR.
YOU ARE ONE OF 24 OTHER PEOPLE
THAT SERVED ON THE GOVERNOR'S
TASK FORCE INCLUDING MYSELF.
>> Aaron Kunz: WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO MOVE ON.
BETSY WITH THE NEXT QUESTION.
>> Betsy Russell: THE NEXT
QUESTION IS ABOUT SCHOOL
CHOICE.
THE IDAHO CONSTITUTION MANDATE
THAT THE STATE SHALL, QUOTE --
MAINTAIN A GENERAL UNIFORM AND
THOROUGH SYSTEM OF PUBLIC FREE
COMMON SCHOOLS.
SENATOR DURST, UNDER YOUR
PHILOSOPHY THAT MONEY SHOULD
FOLLOW THE STUDENT, HOW CAN
YOU ENSURE IDAHO I STUDENTS IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE GUARANTEED
AN EQUAL EDUCATION
PARTICULARLY IN THE RURAL
AREAS OF THE STATE?
PROVIDING THAT'S A GOOD
QUESTION.
IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT MY
PLAN, AVAILABLE ON
DURSTFORIDAHO.COM, ACTUALLY IT
DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB OF
MEETING THAT OBJECTIVE.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S DISPARITIES
ON THEMENT A OF MONEY STUDENTS
GET THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
IDAHO ON A PER PUPIL BASIS.
IF YOU LIVE IN ADA COUNTY AND
CROSS CLOVERDALE ROAD, YOUR
STUDENT COULD SEE A $2500 PER
STUDENT REDECKS.
MY LEGISLATION CORRECT THAT
PROBLEM.
IT EVENS THE MONEY AND MAKES
SURE THAT OUR RURAL SCHOOLS,
THOSE SCHOOLS WITH LESS THAN
2,000 STUDENTS NEVER SEE A
REDUCTION IN THEIR PER PIF
PUPIL FUNDING.
THIS IS A SUPERIOR WAY OF
PROVIDE CHOICE, BUT WE ALSO
MAKE SURE WE MEET OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE UNIFORMITY
IN THE FUNDING OF OUR SCHOOLS.
SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ELUSIVE
TO LEGISLATORS FOR DECADES.
SO I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE A PLAN
THAT WILL DO THAT VERY THING,
THAT WILL PROTECT OUR RURAL
SCHOOLS, WHILE BEING ABLE TO
RAISE MORE COMPETITION IN OUR
SCHOOLS TO SEE INCREASED
>> Betsy Russell: MRS. CRITCHF
IELD, WOULD YOU HAVE SUPPORTED
THE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT
BILL THAT DIED IN THE HOUSE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE, A BILL
THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED
PARENTS TO USE THE MONEY FOR
PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS?
>> Debbie Critchfield: IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN CONDITIONAL
NUMBER ONE THAT WE'RE NOT
DEFUNDING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
WHICH IS MY PRIORITY AND AS
YOU POINTED OUT IS A
CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION.
AND SECONDLY, IT COULD NOT
COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR
RURAL SCHOOLS.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT REVENUE
BROUGHT THAT OUT, AND OF THE
THREE OF US HERE I MANY A THE
ONE -- I AM THE ONE CANDIDATE
WHO FULLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT
MEANS TO EDUCATE A CHILD IN A
RURAL SETTING.
I'M ABOUT COMPETITION TOO, BUT
IN ALMA, IDAHO, THERE'S NO
COMPETITION OTHER THAN ONLINE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHOICE, WE
HAVE TO LOOK AT CHOICE IN HOW
WE TAKE THAT IN OUTSIDE OF THE
MOST POPULOUS AND URBAN AREAS
OF OUR STATE, WHERE IT'S
LIMITED TO NOTHING.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO
CONDITIONS UPON WHICH I WOULD
HAVE MOVED FORWARD, POSITIVELY
OR NOT, ON THAT LEGISLATION.
>> Betsy Russell: SUPERINTENDE
NT YBARRA, YOU OFTEN ADVOCATE
FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.
YET IN EIGHT YEARS OR ALMOST
EIGHT YEARS IN STATE OFFICE,
YOU HAVE NOT PRESENTED A
MEANINGFUL SCHOOL CHOICE
PROPOSAL OF YOUR OWN.
WHY IS THAT?
>> Sherri Ybarra: I'M A HUGE
SUPPORTER OF SCHOOL CHOICE
OVER MY LEADERSHIP WE'VE
INCREASED THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
BY OVER 40%.
BUT WHAT YOU HEARD BOTH MY
OPPONENTS SAY IS THEY ARE
SHOWCHER SUPPORTERS.
I AM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
THAT'S WHY YOU SAW MY STAFF
AND MYSELF FIGHT AGAINST
ANYTHING THAT COMES FORWARD
THAT SIPHONS MONEY FROM PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
THE VOTERS OF IDAHO HAVE
ENTRUSTED ME WITH THEIR
TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SUPPORT
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
I KNOW OUR RURAL SCHOOLS HAVE
A LOT MORE CHALLENGES THAN THE
REST OF OUR LARGER URBAN
SCHOOLS DO, IDAHO IS OVER 70%
RURAL.
THEY HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS.
AND THE RESEARCH BEHIND THAT
SAYS IT'S THE BUDGET.
REDUCING THE THINGS THAT
HAMSTRING THOSE RURAL SCHOOLS
IN THE BUDGET MAKING SURE THEY
HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY,
MAKING SURE THERE IS STRONG
PARENTAL SUPPORT IN THOSE
SCHOOLS, AND MAKING SURE AS
WELL THAT YOU HAVE A LEADER
THAT SUPPORTS EDUCATION PUBLIC
EDUCATION AS A CHOICE AS WELL
ACROSS OUR STATE.
AND TOUTS ALL OF THE
MAGNIFICENT THINGS THEY'VE
DONE IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT
ANYTHING THAT SIPHONS MONEY
AWAY FROM OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION
SYSTEM.
>> Aaron Kunz: LET'S GIVE THE
OTHER CANDIDATES A CHANCE TO
RESPOND.
WE'LL START WITH
MRS. CRISPEDFIELD.
>> Debbie Critchfield: I'M
CURIOUS HOW SHE'S INCREASED
SCHOOL CHOICE BY 40%.
UNLESS SHE'S ON THE CHARTER
COMMISSION, I'M NOT SURE HOW
THAT WOULD HAPPEN.
>> Sherri Ybarra: I WOULD LIKE
TO ADDRESS MY OPPONENT WHO HAS
NO IDEA WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO
RUN THE CHARTER SCHOOL
DIVISION.
IT'S LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE,
ALL OF THE NEW CHARTER
SCHOOLS.
AND ALSO IN ADVANCED
OPPORTUNITY WE -- ADVANCED
OPPORTUNITIES -- EXCUSE ME.
LIKE IN THE THIRD GRADE
CLASSROOM, WE TEACH OUR
STUDENTS NOT TO INTERRUPT.
I WAS SPEAKING AND YOU CAN
HAVE YOUR TURN IN A MOMENT.
SO WITH THAT, ALSO, THERE IS
LOTS OF CHOICES WITHIN OUR
SYSTEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, ADVANCED
OPPORTUNITIES HAS BEEN OPENED
UP TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
THAT WAS MY TEAM THAT DID THAT
FOR THE STATE OF IDAHO.
BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT
ANYTHING THAT SIPHONS AWAY
THOSE DOLLARS FROM OUR PUBLIC
EDUCATION SYSTEM.
>> Aaron Kunz: SENATOR DURST?
>> Branden Durst: WHAT YOU
HEARD FROM THESE LADIES, ONE
WHO IS COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO
COMPETITION IN SCHOOLS, TO AN
EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT, AND
ONE WHO GIVE INDICATES AND
DEPENDS UPON WHICH GROUP SHE'S
TALKING ABOUT -- TALKING TO AS
TO WHETHER SHE SUPPORTS IT OR
NOT.
I'M CRYSTAL CLEAR.
I 100% SUPPORT EDUCATION
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, I BELIEVE WE
SHOULD HAVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
COMPETING WITH PRIVATE SCHOOLS
FOR MONEY, AND FOR STUDENTS.
THAT IS HOW COMPETITION WORKS.
THAT'S PART OF THE REPUBLICAN
PLATFORM AND I 100% SUPPORT
IT.
>> Aaron Kunz: WE'VE GOT TO
MOVE ON.
KEVIN WITH THE NEXT QUESTION.
>> Kevin Richert: SENATOR
DURST, YOU'VE TALKED A LOT
THIS EVENING ABOUT OFFERING
VOTERS SOMETHING DIFFERENT,
SOMETHING THAT IS NOT MORE OF
THE SAME.
LET'S TALK ABOUT GRADUATION
RATES.
WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD YOU DO
DIFFERENTLY TO IMPROVE ISES'
GRADUATION RATES?
>> Branden Durst: THIS GOES
BACK TO SCHOOL CHOICE.
IF YOU'RE IN A DISTRICT THAT'S
NOT WORKING, BEING ABLE TO
LEVERAGE YOUR AUTHORITY AS A
PARENT TO TAKE THAT MONEY
SOMEPLACE ELSE IS HOW WE
IMPROVE SCHOOL CHOICE.
IT'S HOW WE IMPROVE OUR
GRADUATION RATES.
YOU FIND A SCHOOL THAT IS
GOING TO WORK FOR YOU, AND TO
HELP ADDRESS THE QUESTION, YOU
CAN HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE IN
EVERY PART OF THE STATE OF
IDAHO.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS FIND
FIVE OTHER FAMILIES AND OPEN A
SCHOOL UNDER WHAT WE CALL A
POD.
YOU CAN DO THAT ANYWHERE IN
IDAHO.
THERE WAS A STORY THAT CAME
OUT RECENTLY THAT SHOWED THAT
VERY THING.
THIS IS HOW CURVES GOVERN.
THEY DON'T LET NOT ONLY
FORSTUDENTS THAT CHOOSE THAT
SCHOOL CHOICE TO GO OUTSIDE
THE SYSTEM, BUT IT'S ALSO
IMPROVED THE OUTCOMES FOR
STUDENTS THAT STAY IN THE
SYSTEM AS WELL, THAT'S
SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING
IN IDAHO AND WHY WE AREN'T IS
JUST BECAUSE OF A LACK OF
LEADERSHIP.
>> Kevin Richert: MOST SCHOOL
CHOICE OPTIONS ARE CENTERED IN
URBAN AREAS IN THE STATE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CHARTER
SCHOOLS, HOW DO YOU EXPAND
SCHOOL CHOICE AND DO THE ARENA
OF IMPROVING GRADUATION RATES?
IN RURAL IDAHO?
>> Branden Durst: WE DON'T
HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE TO
HAVE MONEY FOLLOW STUDENTS.
IF WE DID, THEN 10 FAMILIAR
HIS IN A SMALL COMMUNITY LIKE
THREE -- COULD TAKE THEIR KIDS
SOMEWHERE ELSE AND IMPROVE THE
AREA.
IF YOU'RE -- NO MATTER WHERE
YOU WERE IN IDAHO, IF YOU CAN
FIND -- IF YOU CAN FIND OTHER
FAMILIES TO GET TOGETHER, YOU
CAN HIRE YOUR OWN TEACHER,
HAVE YOUR OWN CURRICULUM AND
DO WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST.
THAT'S CALLED EMPOWERING
PARENTS AND THAT'S WHAT I
>> Aaron Kunz: MRS. CRITCHFIEL
D, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO
IMPROVE GRAD WAYS RATES?
>> Debbie Critchfield: WE'VE
GOT TO TRANSFORM HOW WE
EDUCATE OUR JUNIORS AND
SENIORS.
AND I WANT TO HAVE THAT
ANCHORED TO A WORK-BASED
EXPERIENCE, WHETHER THAT'S
INTERNSHIP APPRENTICESHIP,
WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE THE
RELEVANCY FOR WHAT OUR KIDS
ARE LEARNING, HOW THEY APPLY
THAT KNOWLEDGE.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT KNOWING,
BUT DOING.
I HAVE WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF
SCHOOL DISTRICTS OVER THE LAST
FEW YEARS WHILE PRESIDENT OF
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO
HELP DEVELOP PATHWAYS FOR
GRADUATION THAT TOOK IN CAREER
TECHNICAL GOALS.
AND TRADITIONAL COLLEGE GOALS.
IF A KID WANTS TO GO TO
COLLEGE IN IDAHO WE KNOW
HOW-TO-GET YOU THERE.
BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT
EVERYTHING ELSE.
WHAT ARE ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS?
AND HOW WE REIMAGINE AND
RETHINK WHAT WE'RE DOING, OUR
SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT HELP.
THEY WANT A LEADER.
THEY DON'T WANT A SPECTATOR.
THERE IS LOCAL CONTROL, BUT
THEY WANT A PARTNER THAT WILL
HELP THEM SATISFY THE NEEDS IN
THEIR COMMUNITY AND I BELIEVE
WHEN WE DO THAT, WE WILL SEE
STUDENTS THAT WANT TO HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE, THAT'S NOT GET
THROUGH YOUR SENIOR YEAR AND
TRY TO GO TO SOMETHING ELSE.
THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE
LEARNING AND DOING IN HIGH
SCHOOL HAS APPLICATION AND
VALUE TO THEM OUTSIDE.
>> Kevin Richert: SUPERINTENDE
NT YBARRA, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT
THE FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE
HITTING A RECORD.
BUT THE FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION
RATE DROPPED THIS YEAR.
HOW DO YOU IMPROVE THAT
GRADUATION RATE AND HELP
STUDENTS GRADUATE ON TIME AS
OPPOSED TO SPENDING AN EXTRA
YEAR GETTING THEIR DIPLOMA?
>> Sheri Ybarra: I WAS AN
EDUCATOR MYSELF AND SOMEONE
WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING
ON AT THE CLASSROOM LEVEL,
WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT THAT
NUMBER THAT HAS DROPPED,
THAT'S THE FOUR-YEAR
GRADUATION RATE.
WE HAD A PANDEMIC, SO THAT
EXPLAINS A LOT.
THAT MEANS KIDS NEEDED A
LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO
GRADUATE.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU SAW THE
FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE GO
TO AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO
CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
AS IDAHOANS RAISE THAT
GRADUATION RATE UP?
WE NEED CAREER, MORE CAREER
TECHNICAL EDUCATION CHOICES
FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY UNDER MY
LEADERSHIP WE HAVE OFFERED
THOSE AT OUR SEVENTH AND
EIGHTH GRADE LEVELS AND FOR
THOSE VOTERS WATCHING TONIGHT
WHO HAVE ASKED ME ABOUT
VOCATIONAL CREDITS AND HIGH
SCHOOL, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
WE NEED MORE OPTIONS WITHIN
OUR SYSTEM OF PUBLICATION, I
THINK ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS
THAT HAPPENED DURING THE
PANDEMIC IS WE REALIZE HOW OUR
KIDS RELY SO MUCH ON
TECHNOLOGY.
IN A TIME WHEN OUR PARENTS
WILL SHOW UP AT THE COFFEE
SHOP IN THE MORNING BEFORE
DROPPING THEIR KIDS OFF AT
SCHOOL AND EXPECT HIGH-SPEED
INTERNET WITH THEIR CUP OF
JOE, OUR STUDENTS EXPECT NO
LESS.
AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY WE
CAN KEEP KIDS ENGAGED.
A MASTERY-BASED EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT
THAT LEGISLATION FORWARD, TO
MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS CAN BE
SELF-LEARNERS IN THAT SYSTEM
IF THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT
CHOOSES TO PARTICIPATE IN
THAT.
AGAIN, OUR KIDS NEED TO HAVE A
FOOT IN BOTH LANES AT ALL
TIMES.
IT IS OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE SUPPLYING THOSE
RESOURCES FOR THEM TO BE
COLLEGE OR CAREER READY LIKE
WE HAVE DONE.
>> Aaron Kunz: OUR NEXT
QUESTION COMES FROM BETSY.
YOUR FIRST QUESTION TO SENATOR
DURST.
>> Betsy Russell: SENATOR
DURST, WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT
THE PANDEMIC AND ITS IMPACT ON
EDUCATION IN IDAHO.
TELL ME WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE
DONE DIFFERENTLY?
YOU HAVE INDICATED YOU WOULD
SUPPORT A STATEWIDE BAN ON
MASK MANDATE.
DOESN'T THAT FLY IN THE FACE
OF LOCAL CONTROL?
>> Branden Durst: THERE'S
THINGS LOCAL CONTROL ISN'T
APPROPRIATE FOR, AND THAT'S
ONE OF THEM.
THE MOST LOCAL CONTROL IS FOR
THE PARENTS.
AND I SUPPORT LOCAL CONTROL
FOR PARENTS TO MAKE THOSE
DECISIONS FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
AND I DO BELIEVE THERE SHOULD
HAVE BEEN A MOVE BY THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO BAN
SCHOOL DISTRICTS -- TO
PROHIBIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM
MANDATING MASKS.
WE SAW PLACES IN WEST ADA
SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE PARENTS
HAD TO LINE UP AROUND THEIR
DISTRICT OFFICE FOR HOURS TO
KISS THE RING OF THE KING SO
THEY COULD ASK FOR THEIR
CHILDREN NOT TO BE FORCED TO
BE WEARING MASKS ONLY TO HAVE
THAT POLICY REVERSED.
PARENTS SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN THE DRIVERS OF THAT
DECISION FOR THEIR STUDENTS
AND I FULLY SUPPORT THAT.
IN FACT, I THINK THAT'S JUST
ONE THING WE SHOULD HAVE DONE.
WE SHOULD HAVE ALSO MAINTAINED R
SCHOOLS STAYED OPEN.
THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED
CREATIVE WORK CAN WITH OUR
STAFF WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS,
HAVING SHARED OPPORTUNITIES
BETWEEN DISTRICTS.
BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
IN-PERSON LEARNING SHOULD HAVE
REMAINED.
LET ME GIVE AGIVE STORY.
ACROSS FROM MY OFFICE WAS A
PRIVATE SCHOOL IN A PUBLIC --
THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR,
THE PRIVATE SCHOOL STAYED
OPEN, AND THE CHILDREN WERE
UNMASKED.
WHEN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FINALLY
WENT BACK INTO SCHOOL,
STUDENTS WERE FORCED TO STAY
AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND THEY
WERE FORCED TO WEAR MASKS.
ON ONE SIDE THERE WAS JOY ON
THE OTHER SIDE THERE WAS BON
DAMAGE.
I BELIEVE IN FREEDOM FOR OUR
STUDENTS, I BELIEVE IN FREEDOM
FOR OUR PARENTS AND THAT STATE
SUPERINTENDENT THAT'S WHAT
>> Betsy Russell: MRS. CRITCHF
IELD, WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM
THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT IS YOUR
PLAN TO ADDRESS LEARNING LOSS?
>> Debbie Critchfield: THANK
YOU.
I KNOW IT'S EASY FOR PEOPLE
THAT WEREN'T THERE AND DON'T
KNOW TO DO SOME QUARTERBACKING
AFTER THE FACT, AND WE LOOK
BACK ON WHAT WE DID AND HOW WE
TRIED TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS BEING
OPEN IN PERSON, AND WHAT THEIR
PLANS WERE AND WHAT THEIR
PROTOCOLS WERE.
WHAT I LEARNED WAS THIS -- THE
DISTRICTS WHO HAD A PLAN AND
HAD AN EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD
AND A STRONG SUPERINTENDENT
WERE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE
PANDEMIC.
THOSE THAT WERE ABLE TO WORK
WITH PARENTS AND THAT HAD OPEN
COMMUNICATION WHERE THEY WERE
ABLE TO BE NIMBLE AND ADAPT TO
THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT'S EASY
TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, GOSH, A
COUPLE YEARS AGO WE SHOULD
SHOULDA, WOULDA, COULDA.
AT THE TIME WE WERE IN REAL
TIME IN A PUBLIC SET CAN,
TRYING TO HELP SUPPORT WHAT
OUR BOARDS WERE DOING, THEY
ARE LOCALLY ELECTED PEOPLE.
AND MR. DURST WANTING A
MANDATE THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE
MASKS IS -- SEEMS VERY SIMILAR
TO WHAT IF THERE HAD BEEN A
MANDATE THAT EVERYONE HAD
MASKING?
I DIDN'T WANT THAT.
WE WANTED THE ABILITY FOR
LOCAL BOARDS WORKING WITH
THEIR COMMUNITIES IN WHAT
WORKED IN THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES,
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THAT
THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT
MAINTAINS THE ROLE OF
SUPPORTER, YOU LISTEN, YOU SEE
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO HELP
SUPPORT THOSE LOCAL DECISIONS,
AND PROVIDE THE RESOURCES THAT
HELP THEM ACCOMPLISH THEIR
GOALS.
>> Aaron Kunz: LET'S GIVE
SENATOR DURST 30 SECONDS TO
RESPOND.
>> Branden Durst: WE'RE NOT
TELLING ANYBODY THEY CAN'T
WEAR A MASK, JUST THAT PARENTS
SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FORCED TO
PUT A MASK ON THEIR CHILD.
NUMBER TWO, IT WAS IN FRONT OF
TESTIMONY IN THE HOUSE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN 2021
LEGISLATIVE SESSION IT WAS
MEMBERS OF THE ALPHABET SOUP
ISBA AND OTHERS WHO SAID ON
THE RECORD IT WAS YOUR OFFICE
THAT WAS TELLING DISTRICTS
THEY HAD TO KEEP THEIR SCHOOLS
CLOSED.
THAT ON THE RECORD.
AND I CAN FIND THE DATE IF YOU
WOULD LIKE.
I'M HAPPY TO PUT IT ON MY
WEBSITE.
WE HAVE THE VIDEO.
THEY SAID THEY'RE FOLLOWING
THE DIRECTION OF THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION WHO IS
FELLING THEM TO KEEP THEIR
SCHOOLS CLOSED.
AND THEY WERE ALSO THE ONES
FORCING THESE GUIDELINES ON
KEEPING CHILDREN MATCHINGED
RATHER THAN GIVING THE
AUTHORITY TO PARENTS.
>> Sherri Ybarra: I NEVER GAVE
A DIRECTIVE FOR BOARDS TO KEEP
THEIR SCHOOLS CLOSED.
I'M NOT SURE ON THE DATE OF
THAT.
I SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF THE
REOPEN IDAHO ACROSS THE STATE,
ON THE GOVERNOR'S K-12
COUNCIL, HOW DO WE GET KIDS
BACK INTO SCHOOL?
AS SOON AS WE WENT INTO SOFT
CLOSURE, WHICH WAS ORDERED
THROUGH THE STAGING ORDERS IN
THE STATE, IMMEDIATELY MY
ATTENTION AS PRESIDENT TURNED
TO HELPING SUPPORT OUR
DISTRICTS TO GET BACK OPEN IN
THE FORM THAT THEY COULD,
PREFERABLY IN PERSON, FOR THE
COMING SCHOOL YEAR.
>> Betsy Russell: SUPERINTENDE
NT YBARRA, WHAT DID YOU LEARN
FROM THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT IS
YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS LEARNING
LOSS?
>> Sherri Ybarra: I WANT THE
VOTERS OF IDAHO TO KNOW THIS
IS WHY I HAVE BEEN A STAUNCH
SUPPORTER OF LOCAL CONTROL.
I DID NOT INSTITUTE A MASK
MANDATE, NOR DID I CLOSE
SCHOOLS.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY THOSE EDUCATORS DID
AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN A TIME
WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE A
BLUEPRINT FOR THIS PANDEMIC.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE
FOUND OUT VERY QUICKLY FROM
PARENTS, THEY WANTED THEIR
SCHOOLS OPEN, AND A LOT OF
PARENTS TOLD ME I'M NOT A
TEACHER AND I FOUND THAT OUT
THE HARD WAY.
SO WHAT DID WE LEARN?
WE LEARNED TECHNOLOGY WAS A
MUST.
THAT PARENTS WANT MORE
INVOLVEMENT.
THAT WE NEEDED SOMETHING
CALLED A STATEWIDE LEARNING
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT COULD
TAKE ATTENDANCE, BECAUSE WE
HAD A FUNDING FORMULA THAT
FUNDS SCHOOLS THAT WAS BASED
ON ATTENDANCE DURING A
PANDEMIC WHERE EVERYBODY WAS
MISSING SCHOOL AND THERE
WASN'T THE AMOUNT OF
ATTENDANCE THAT COULD FUND OUR
SCHOOLS.
THAT'S ALSO WHY YOU SAW ME
SUPPORT AT A BOARD MEETING
LAST WEEK MOVING AWAY FROM
THAT MODEL INTO MORE OF AN
ENROLLMENT-BASED MODEL FOR
FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS.
SO WE LEARNED A LOT MOVING
FORWARD, BUT I THINK THE
NUMBER ONE THING WE NEED TO DO
IS THANK OUR TEACHERS FOR ALL
THE HARD WORK THEY DID AND THE
OTHER THING WE LEARNED IS, WE
SHOULDN'T EVER CLOSE SCHOOLS
AGAIN.
AND WHILE NOBODY COULD HAVE
FORESEEN THAT AND NOBODY DID
ANYTHING WRONG, WE DID SEE
THAT THERE WERE SOME
SLIDEBACKS IN OUR ACHIEVEMENT
WITH OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LEARNERS, AND OUR SPECIAL
POPULATIONS.
AND WE KNEW THAT, AS
EDUCATORS, BUT WE'LL BE
WORKING HARD MOVING FORWARD TO
CLOSE THOSE GAPS.
>> Betsy Russell: WHAT IS YOUR
PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT LEARNING
LOSS, TO ADDRESS THOSE
SLIDEBACKS AS YOU CALL THEM?
>> Sherri Ybarra: THAT'S A
GREAT QUESTION, BETSY.
WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
DISTRICTS ON IS MAKING SURE
THAT THEY'RE USING THEIR COVID
RELIEF DOLLARS ON THOSE
RESEARCH PRACTICES THAT WE
KNOW AS EDUCATORS WORK.
THAT'S HIGH DOSES OF TUTORING,
THAT'S MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A
JUMP START INTO OPTIONAL
ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
SUMMER READING PROGRAMS, WHICH
MAY SECOND MY DEPARTMENT AS
HOSTING SOMETHING CALLED A
SMART TRAINING.
WHICH IS TRAINING ALL TEACHERS
AROUND THE STATE AROUND THE
SCIENCE OF READING AND HOW TO
MAKE SURE TO INTERVENE WITH
KIDS WHEN WE SEE THEY MAY HAVE
A DIFFICULTY WITH -- HAVE
DIFFICULTY WITH READING.
BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE AN
EDUCATOR TO KNOW HOW TO
ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.
AND TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE
WE'RE AT IN IDAHO WHERE WE
WENT FROM 31st ACHIEVEMENT
TO 17th IN ACHIEVEMENT,
RIGHT NOW WHILE WE'RE IN THE
MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
I'M PLEASED, WE DO HAVE A LOT
MUCH WORK TO DO, I DO HAVE A
PLAN TO SUPPORT THAT MOVING
FORWARD, THAT IS BASED ON
FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC.
AND JUST A COUPLE MORE POINTS,
WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON
READING, WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS
ON PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, AND
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR EDUCATORS
HAVE IMPROVED PAY, BECAUSE WE
KNOW THEY WERE THE NUMBER ONE
REASON FOR WHY OUR KIDS HAVE
BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.
>> Aaron Kunz: NEXT ROUND OF
QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING BACK TO
KEVIN.
IF YOU COULD ADDRESS
MRS. CRITCHFIELD.
>> Kevin Richert: BE THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS SAID
THAT THEY DON'T BELIEVE
THERE'S A CRITICAL RACE
PROBLEM IN THE STATE, OR THAT
THERE'S WIDESPREAD CRITICAL
RACE THEORY BEING TAWGHTS.
DO YOU SUPPORT THAT OPINION?
>> Debbie Critchfield: AS A
SYSTEMIC EFFORT TO INCORPORATE
IT IN SCHOOLS, I DO NOT AND
HAVE NOT SEEN IT.
THERE ARE THREE THINGS I KNOW
ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT
BEING IN SCHOOLS AND WHAT
THEIR CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAYING WE
DON'T HAVE IT HERE AND
POLICYMAKERS DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO DO.
I THINK AS WE LOOK AT HOW YOU
DEFINE IT, THERE ARE THINGS
THAT PARENTS ARE BROUGHT TO ME
THAT THEY BELIEVED WERE
CRITICAL RACE THEORY, AND MAY
OR MAY NOT HAVE FIT THE
DEFINITION.
I GUESS YOU HAVE TO START WITH
HOW DOES SOMEONE DEFINE IT?
WE KNOW MORE THAN WE DID A
COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN THIS
FIRST CAME AROUND.
AND I HAVE SEEN MORE DILIGENCE
OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO
BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO
PARENTS, THEY NEED MORE
SUPPORT, THEY NEED MORE HELP,
THEY DON'T NEED FIVE-POINT
PRESENTATIONS OF HOW TO DO
THIS OR THAT.
THEY NEED SOMEONE THAT WILL
HELP THEM COMMUNICATE.
AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND
MAKE SURE OUR PARENTS ARE
PARTICIPATING IN SOME OF THESE
VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEES AND
DECISION MAKINGS AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL.
>> Kevin Richert: SUPERINTENDE
NT YBARRA, DO YOU THINK IT'S A
WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN SCHOOLS
AND TO WHAT DEGREE HAVE YOU
AND YOUR DEPARTMENT TRIED TO
TRACK IT?
>> Sherri Ybarra: AT LEAST
WE'RE NOT ONE OF THOSE SCARY
EXAMPLES IN THE HILLSDALE
COLLEGE JOURNAL REPORT THAT
USES IDAHO AS AN EXAMPLE OF
CRT.
I WILL ALSO SAY PARENTS ARE
CONCERNED.
AND SO WHAT DID I DO?
I SPRUNG INTO ACTION.
ONE I SUPPORTED THE
LEGISLATION THAT OUR
LEGISLATURE CAME OUT WITH, I
DID NOT ON APRIL 22nd OF
2021 LIKE MY OPPONENT SAY SHE
WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO TAKE
A POSITION.
I ROLLED MY SLEEVES UP, I GOT
OUT INTO THE CLASSROOMS, I
VISITED GOVERNMENT CLASSES, I
VISITED HISTORY CLASSES, I
TALKED TO EDUCATORS AND WHAT I
SAW WAS THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE BEING STUDIED,
THE CONSTITUTION, EVERYBODY
WAS IN GOOD SPIRITS, AND SAID
THEY ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO
FOLLOW THE LAW.
ON BEHALF OF IDAHOANS, WHAT
ELSE I HAVE DONE?
I'VE MADE SURE I'VE
INVESTIGATED EVERY ALLEGATION
THAT'S COME ACROSS MY DESK.
AND LASTLY, I DID GIVE A
FIVE-POINT PLAN TO
SUPERINTENDENTS AS AYE
TRAVELED THE STATE, MAKING
SURE THEY EDUCATE THEMSELVES
ABOUT AND THAT THEY TAKE EVERY
ALLEGATION SERIOUSLY.
PARENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT THIS.
IN OUR STATE.
SO YOU MUST MAKE SURE THAT
FOLKS SHOW YOU THE EXAMPLE AND
YOU HAVE FOCUS GROUPS LIKE
SOME OF OUR SUPERINTENDENTS
HAVE HAD.
THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE
ADVICE I GAVE THEM, THEY HAD
FOCUS GROUPS, THEY ARE ASKING
PEOPLE TO POINT OUT EXAMPLES%
MOVING FORWARD.
I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT ON
BEHALF OF IDAHOANS.
>> Aaron Kunz: SENATOR DURST,
I SUSPECT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT
READ ON THE EXTENT OF CRITICAL
RACE THEORY IN THE SCHOOLS.
I WANT TO HEAR THAT, BUT I
ALSO WANT TO HEAR HOW DO YOU
DEFINE CRITICAL RACE THEORY?
>> Branden Durst: IT'S AN
IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR OUR
FAMILIES.
SOCIAL JUSTICE DOCTRINATION,
WHETHER WE CALL IT CRITICAL
RACE THEORY, TRANSFORM TEF
SEL, NO MATTER THE FORM, WHAT
IT DOES IS TRIES TO DIVIDE OUR
PEOPLE INTO TWO GROUPS.
ONE THAT IS OPPRESSED AND ONE
THAT IS THE OPPRESSOR, BASED
ON THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN AND
ETHNIC BACKGROUND.
I THINK WE NEED TO STOP IT.
WE NEED REAL ACTION.
WHAT I HEAR IS THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR MORE TALK.
BUT NOT ACTUALLY DOING
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
THAT'S WHY I PROPOSED AND WILL
PROPOSE AS MEMBER OF THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A
NEW POLICY UNDER BOARD POLICY
3B WHICH WILL CREATE A CAUSE
OF ACTION.
IF TEACHERS OR PROFESSORS ARE
TRYING TO DOCTRINE YAIT OUR
STUDENTS AND DON'T TAKE THE
MESSAGE TO STOP, THEY'RE GOING
TO LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO TEACH
IN IDAHO.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A REAL PLAN.
WE CAN'T KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT
AND HAVING MORE DIALOGUE.
THE TIME FOR DIALOGUE IS OVER.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE BEING INFESTED
WITH THESE THINGS, IS IT
HAPPENING IN EVERY DISTRICT IN
IDAHO?
NO.
BUT IS IT HAPPENING IN A
WIDESPREAD BASIS?
YES.
AND I HAVEN'T STEPPED AWAY
FROM THAT POSITION.
STANDING UP HERE WHO HASN'T
SAID PUBLICLY THAT IT'S NOT A
PROBLEM THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE
WORRIED ABOUT.
I BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM AND
I THINK SOMETHING WE HAVE TO
TAKE SERIOUSLY, WHICH IS WHY
IT'S BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF MY
CAMPAIGN.
AND SOMETHING I'VE BEEN
SPENDING SO MUCH TIME TALKING
ABOUT AND LISTENING TO VOTERS
AS THEY SHARE THEIR CONCERNS
AS WELL.
>> Aaron Kunz: WE ARE OUT OF
TIME.
IT IS TIME FOR YOUR CLOSING
STATEMENTS.
60 SECONDS FOR EACH OF THE
CANDIDATES.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH
SENATOR DURST.
>> Branden Durst: THANK YOU TO
IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION FOR
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS
DEBATE.
AS I SAID OVER AN HOUR AGO,
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TWO
COMPETING VISIONS FOR THE
FUTURE OF IDAHO SCHOOLS.
YOU HEARD FROM THE LADIES TO
MY LEFT, THEIR VISION IS TO
DOUBLE DOWN ON A SYSTEM THAT
ISN'T WORKING FOR SO MANY
FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND SO
MANY STUDENTS.
A SYSTEM THEY BELIEVE IS --
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM THOSE
BEST AND PARENTS DON'T.
MY VISION IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.
I TRUST PARENTS.
I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE IN
THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THEIR
CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, I
BELIEVE WE SHOULD GET
GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY.
AND LET THEM LEAD.
ON MAY 17th WE HAVE ALL HAD
A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT HAVE
GONE ON.
ON MAY 17th I'M GOING TO
GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
A CHANCE TO ELECT SOMEONE WHO
WILL CHANGE THE EDUCATION
SYSTEM, SOMEONE WHO WILL MAKE
OUR IMPROVEMENT, WHO WILL
FOCUS ON PARENTS, SOMEONE WHO
WILL FOCUS ON STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT AND ON MAY 17th
YOU'LL GET YOUR FINAL CHANCE
TO DO SOMETHING YOU'VE WANTED
TO DO FOR A LONG TIME, WHICH
IS SAY LET'S GO BRANDEN.
VOTE FOR ME ON MAY 17th.
THANK YOU.
>> Debbie Critchfield: THANK
YOU TO THE PANEL AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR
VIEWPOINTS.
AND THERE IS A STARK CONTRAST
HERE.
AND IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME
TO TRANSFORM THE NEED OF OUR
EDUCATION AND EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM TO FIT THE NEEDS OF OUR
STUDENTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY,
IT IS NOW.
AND WE NEED A LEADER TO DO
THIS.
I AM THE CHANGE CANDIDATE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE STATUS
QUO.
IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING TENURED
INTO POSITION WITH FUZZY DATA.
IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICAL
RHETORIC.
IT'S ABOUT SOMEONE WHO IS A
LEADER AND HAS EXHIBITED THE
EVIDENCE OF THAT LEADERSHIP.
THAT WANTS TO HELP OUR SCHOOL.
WANTS TO HELP OUR FAMILIES
THAT WANTS TO GROW OUR STATE.
IN THE WAY THAT WE KNOW THAT
WE CAN.
THAT WANTS TO RESTORE THE
VALUE OF EDUCATION.
I AM THAT PERSON, I WOULD
INVITE THE VIEWERS TO CHECK
OUT DEBBIE FOR IDAHO E.COM.
CHECK ALL OF US OUT.
KNOW WHO YOU'RE GETTING, KNOW
WHERE YOU WANT TO GO AND
CHOOSE YOUR LEADER WISELY.
THANK YOU.
>> Aaron Kunz: FINALLY,
SUPERINTENDENT YBARRA.
>> Sherri Ybarra: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
TO THE LISTENERS TONIGHT, FOR
WATCHING THIS ENTIRE DEBATE,
WHAT WE HAVE IN IDAHO IS A
GREAT STATE.
A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A
FAMILY.
A GREAT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
AND WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE
EVERYONE KEEPS MOVING HERE TO
OUR LITTLE SECRET.
OUR PLACE THAT WE CALL IDAHO,
HOME.
I CARE VERY DEEPLY ABOUT OUR
OVER 300,000 STUDENTS IN OUR
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, AND ALL OF
THE PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE OVER
THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
AND I KNOW IDAHOANS WANT TO
CONTINUE TO SEE OUR STUDENTS
ACHIEVE AND EXCEL.
OUR OVER 300,000 STUDENTS
DESERVE AN EXPERIENCED LEADER
LIKE MYSELF HOE HAS THE TRACK
RECORD OF SUCCESS, THE
EXPERTISE OF A LIFELONG
EDUCATOR, THE ONE WHO ALREADY
HAS A STRONG TEAM IN PLACE AND
A LEADER WHO HAS THE HEART OF
A MOTHER TO DO THIS JOB.
I LOVE MY JOB AS STATE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION IN IDAHO AND I
WOULD BE HONORED TO REPRESENT
YOU ONCE AGAIN AS IDAHO'S
25th SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
AND LIKE THE KIDS SAY, PLEASE
VOTE FOR SHERI IN THE PRIMARY.
>> Aaron Kunz: WELL, THANK YOU
TO THE CANDIDATES FOR THE TIME
TONIGHT.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO STAND
THERE AND TAKE TOUGH
QUESTIONS, WE APPRECIATE THE
TIME YOU HAVE SPENT WITH US
TONIGHT.
AS WELL AS TO THE REPORTERS
WHO ASKED GREAT QUESTIONS, AND
TO OUR VIEWERS AT HOME, JUST A
QUICK REMINDER, IT IS MAY
17th THE DAY TO LET YOUR
VOICE BE HEARD.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE YOU OUT
THERE AT THE POLLS.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
CANDIDATES ON OUR WEBSITE,
IDAHOPTV.ORG/ELECTIONS.
THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US.
WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE
TOMORROW NIGHT FOR THE
SECRETARY OF STATE DEBATE,
8:00, BOTH MOUNTAIN AND
PACIFIC.
THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US.
GOOD NIGHT.
Captioning Performed By
LNS Captioning
¶www.LNScaptioning.com
>> IDAHO DEBATES IS ORGANIZED
BY THESE PARTNERS.
FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE
FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
THE IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION
ENDOWMENT, AND THE CORPORATION
FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.