>> 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.