This $5,000 dollar per child “Tax credit” is simply a handout for wealthy parents to send their children to private or parochial schools with zero accountability on how the money is used.

Thus, vouchers / tax credits are essentially fiscal giveaways for the urban rich as most middle class and working poor parents, even with voucher money, simply cannot afford to send their children to costly private or parochial schools.

It is like subsidizing a rich person with tax payer money to help them buy a yacht. Even if everyone is eligible for a yacht voucher, only a privileged few will be able to purchase the luxury item.

Let’s be clear, educational vouchers will benefit only the Boise based wealthy. Over 85 percent of all Idaho’s private and parochial schools are in urban centers. How will a voucher bill benefit parents from Clark County or Leadore? Why should I or anyone else have to subsidize wealthy elites to send their kids to an elitist private or church school?

Idaho currently ranks 51^st in the USA in per pupil expenditures. Data doesn’t lie and no matter how one cuts it, Idaho is dead last. This fiscal albatross voucher scheme will negatively impact public schools even further (particularly rural schools) by diverting desperately needed resources to private or religious schools.

Another valid question is why are out of state monied companies so desperately pushing for vouchers? Why are we allowing out of state voucher carpetbaggers to dictate our legislation?

Voucher proponents argue loudly that parents need choice, but parents already have many educational choices. They can choose private or parochial schools if available, or they can choose to home school their child. Within the public school framework, parents may choose traditional, online, charter, or magnet schools. There is already plenty of choice.

Another major concern is these voucher bills provide for zero fiscal accountability. Who will be responsible for overseeing that each education voucher dollar is utilized appropriately, especially with those homeschooling? Will homeschooling parents have to register on a government mandated list for annual expenditure reviews? Are there enough state auditors to review these expenditures?

What will the penalties be for illegal or inappropriate voucher uses? What utilizations will be considered educational in nature? Who will make those decisions? Who will oversee the funds? Who will hold private, parochial, or home schooling parents accountable? Do these private or home groups want strict government fiscal oversight? These fundamental questions must be addressed.

Another deep concern is that I believe vouchers represent a clear violation of the Constitution by forcing me to use my hard earned tax dollars to subsidize private Evangelical, Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish, Mormon, or Muslim etc… religious teachings.

While I agree that parents have a right to pay for their own child’s religious upbringing or indoctrination, why should I, or other tax payers like me be forced to do so?

One of the many blessings we have of living in this great nation is that we enjoy freedom OF religion, but equally important, freedom FROM religion. Our founding fathers were very clear on this point as they determinedly did not want a tax supported state religion like the Church of England. Vouchers are a dangerous step towards the unnecessary mingling of church and state.

Tax payer dollars should only be used for public purposes.

Vouchers are wrong on multiple levels. They are welfare for the rich, they are budget busters that will take away money from and hurt rural communities, voucher bill efforts are financed by out of state carpetbaggers, provide only an illusion of choice, they force tax payer support of religion, and there will be zero to very little meaningful fiscal accountability and oversight.

Please join with me in working to prevent negatively impactful vouchers / tax credits.

I recognize that finding the right superintendent is the most important function of a school board. Good superintendents with experience are very hard to find as the job is one of the most difficult education positions imaginable.

First and foremost, the superintendent must possess multiyear classroom teaching experience. There is simply no substitute for having firsthand knowledge of the curriculum, effective lesson design, classroom time management, appropriately addressing student misbehavior, and child pedagogical development.

Without classroom experience, how could a superintendent be taken seriously by other educators without the requisite professional background knowledge?

A superintendent must know how to work closely with a local governing school board who often have widely differing views regarding how best to educate children. Boards are regularly split in their educational and political viewpoints. How a Superintendent manages these significant board differences will often determine the success of their district, not to mention the longevity of their career in that community.

A superintendent must be extremely knowledgeable regarding educational law (personnel, collective bargaining, budgeting, transportation, food services, student discipline to name a few) including the very demanding and detailed federal laws pertaining to special needs populations.

Also, a superintendent must be very familiar with state board policies, state department regulations, and their own local school board policies. This vast legal knowledge does not just magically occur, it requires a prodigious amount of time and effort with continuous diligent updating.

Mastering and managing the intricacies of the school budget with a maze of federal and state regulations thrown in the mix by itself is a gargantuan task. A poorly managed budget is devastating to district employees and to the community as the school district is often the county’s largest employer.

Due to aging statewide K-12 school facilities a superintendent will most likely be faced with the difficult decision to go to the local taxpayers for a bond or levy. Being familiar with student growth patterns, architectural designs, facility – construction cost projections, bond payments, bond or levy laws and legal documentation is a time consuming and daunting task.

A superintendent must be able to smoothly address competing parental and educator concerns. Making exceptions or favoring one over another due to personal political views is a recipe for disaster.

Frequently, a superintendent must restrain their personal political views in order to not offend their patrons and subsequently polarize a community. Unlike the campaign trail, as superintendent, you can’t make empty promises, you must stay focused on the primary concern of students, their physical, mental, emotional wellbeing and successful learning and not politics.

As superintendent you must love and accept every child, regardless of race, immigration status, religion, ethnicity, English language ability, socio-economic status, handicapping condition, gender, or sexual orientation. Every child in the district is your first and foremost concern always.

In regards to the superintendent contract, it needs to be a standard one. As I was commencing my work as superintendent, I was given sage advice by a seasoned superintendent veteran when he said to me, “Geoff, you never want to drive a Cadillac in a pickup truck community. Never let your contract be a lightning rod. Stay in the salary mainstream.”

That was incredibly good advice which remained with me throughout my career.

As superintendent you wear many hats: Chief Educator, Chief Academic and Executive Officer, Budget Supervisor / Facilitator, Community Leader, District Spokesperson, Bond Spokesperson, Board Spokesperson, Chief Student Advocate, and all too often Community Spear Catcher.

All this and more are what someone signs up for when they seek the Superintendent position. I wish the West Bonner School District well in their decision making.

Higher education learning correlates with better and higher paying employment. You will be working for a very long time, why not be in a great situation with higher pay?

Your coursework in higher education will consistently lead you to ask the most important of all the questions: why? Asking the essential “why” importantly leads to “how do you know that? Which then leads us to facilitate research to determine if there are sources that support one’s premise.

Primary source research leads to producing meaningful data and information , which in turn leads to better analytical thinking, which then leads to, “If so, then what?” types of salient follow up questions and ultimately better personal and professional decision making.

Hence, through persistent research, study, and hard work, we push back against the dark mass of ignorance and accrue important knowledge which will improve every aspect of our lives.

Higher education assists in helping people develop higher order thinking skills, thus, enabling the key ability of pondering complex and often contradictory ideas at the same time.

Undergraduate and graduate programs offer numerous opportunities to connect with professors, industry professionals, and fellow students, providing you with a valuable lifetime network of contacts that can help you throughout your career.

Higher education assists with developing more effective verbal and writing skills. My university professors would skewer my initial offerings in order to encourage me to write with more clarity and precision. Yours will too, and it will be of great benefit to you as you will be able to meet challenging deadlines more capably, and showcase your work via high level communication skills.

Higher education helps us become more informed and better citizens as we learn to part the ever threatening modern day clouds of rampant misinformation and propaganda and helps us unmask the hubristic speeches of demagogues.

Higher education helps extend and illuminate your path of lifelong learning. Currently, my personal library has over 2,000 volumes with timeless works of History, Philosophy, English and World literature, Education, Theology, Government, Linguistics, Biography, Astronomy, Biology, and other works of general interest.

Thus, pursuing a higher education degree can be a fulfilling, lifelong enriching experience that allows you to deepen your knowledge and expertise in a field or areas that you are passionate about.

Higher education should never be perceived as exclusionary and only for the elite. I (and many others) came from very humble fiscal conditions, and yet, I have been able to attain five public university degrees, for which I am very grateful. Regardless of background, this door of educational opportunity is open to you as well.

For all the reasons stated above, higher education is truly beneficial. I would encourage all graduating students to seriously consider matriculating in our public higher education institutions.

Higher education learning correlates with better and higher paying employment. You will be working for a very long time, why not be in a great situation with higher pay?

Your coursework in higher education will consistently lead you to ask the most important of all the questions: why? Asking the essential “why” importantly leads to “how do you know that? Which then leads us to facilitate research to determine if there are supporting sources.

Primary source research leads to producing meaningful data and information, which in turn leads to better analytical thinking, which then leads to, “If so, then what?” types of salient follow up questions and ultimately better personal and professional decision making.

Higher education assists in helping people develop higher order thinking skills, thus, enabling the key ability of pondering complex and often contradictory ideas at the same time. Through persistent research, study, and hard work, we push back against the dark mass of ignorance and accrue important knowledge which will improve every aspect our lives.

Graduating with a higher education degree indicates to future employers you were able to think critically, meet demanding schedules and deadlines, juggle multiple responsibilities effectively and complete important tasks in a satisfactory manner.

Higher education assists with developing more effective verbal and writing skills. My university professors would skewer my initial offerings in order to encourage me to write with more clarity and precision. Yours will too, and it will be of great benefit to you as you will be able to showcase your work via high level communication skills.

Undergraduate and graduate programs offer numerous opportunities to connect with professors, industry professionals, and fellow students, providing you with a valuable lifetime network of contacts that can help you throughout your career.

Higher education helps us become more informed and better citizens as we learn to part the ever threatening clouds of rampant misinformation and propaganda and helps us unmask the hubristic speeches of demagogues.

Higher education helps extend and illuminate your path of lifelong learning. Currently, my personal library has over 2,000 volumes with timeless works of History, Philosophy, English and World literature, Education, Theology, Government, Linguistics, Biography, Astronomy, Biology, and other works of general interest.

Thus, pursuing a higher education degree can be a fulfilling, lifelong enriching experience that allows you to deepen your knowledge and expertise in a field or areas that you are passionate about.

Higher education should never be perceived as exclusionary and only for the elite. I (and many others) came from very humble fiscal conditions, and yet, I have been able to attain five public university degrees, for which I am very grateful. Regardless of your background, this door of educational opportunity is open to you as well.

For all the reasons stated above, higher education is truly beneficial. I would encourage all graduating students to seriously consider matriculating in Idaho higher public education institutions.

A voucher is a set amount of tax dollars provided to parents to use how they see fit for their child’s education. Thus, vouchers are essentially welfare for the rich as most middle class and working poor parents, even with voucher money, simply cannot afford to send their children to costly private or parochial schools.

It is like giving a rich person tax payer money to help them buy a Cadillac. Even if everyone gets a car voucher, only a privileged few will be able to purchase the luxury item.

Let’s be clear. Educational vouchers will benefit only the urban wealthy. Over 85% of all Idaho’s private and parochial schools are in urban centers. How will a voucher bill benefit parents from Clark County or Leadore? Why should I or anyone else have to subsidize wealthy elites to send their kids to an elitist private school?

Idaho currently ranks 51^st in the USA in per pupil expenditures. Data don’t lie and no matter how one cuts it, Idaho is dead last. Vouchers most assuredly will negatively impact public schools even further (Particularly rural schools) by diverting desperately needed resources to private or religious schools.

Voucher proponents argue loudly that parents need choice, but parents already have educational choices. They can choose private or parochial schools if available, or they can choose to home school their child. Within the public school framework, parents may choose traditional, online, charter, or magnet schools. There is already plenty of choice.

Another major concern is fiscal accountability. Who will be responsible for overseeing that each education voucher dollar is utilized appropriately? Are there enough state auditors to review these expenditures?

The fiscal “Accountability” hammer is wielded consistently over the heads of traditional school superintendents and business managers, so, will our accountability hand wringing legislative friends also be as determinedly vigilant with parents?

What will the penalties be for illegal or inappropriate voucher uses? What utilizations will be considered educational in nature? Who will make those decisions? Who will oversee the funds? Who will hold parents accountable? These fundamental questions must be addressed.

Another deep concern is that I believe vouchers represent a clear violation of the Constitution by forcing me to use my hard earned tax dollars to subsidize private Catholic, Lutheran, Mormon, or Muslim etc… religious teachings.

While I agree that parents have a right to pay for their own child’s religious upbringing or indoctrination, why should I, or other tax payers like me be forced to do so?

One of the many blessings we have of living in this great nation is that we enjoy freedom OF religion, but equally important, freedom FROM religion. Our founding fathers were very clear on this point as they determinedly did not want a tax supported state religion like the Church of England. Vouchers are a dangerous step towards the unnecessary mingling of church and state.

Tax payer dollars directed into educational vouchers for religious purposes are a class action lawsuit just waiting to happen, and I will be proud to be the first tax payer to file suit, if the legislation passes. Public tax dollars should be used for public purposes only.

Vouchers are wrong on multiple levels. They are welfare for the rich, they will take away money from and hurt rural communities, they provide only an illusion of choice, they force tax payer support of religion, and there will very little meaningful fiscal accountability and oversight.

Please join with me in working to prevent vouchers.

From the beginning of my tenure, I was impressed that these selfless individuals would diligently serve without compensation and far too often without any thanks from their community.

Board service requires significant time away from family, hard work, a great deal of “onboarding,” learning new and varied responsibilities, and working cohesively with other board members and a superintendent.

Board members often must wrestle with very challenging political and economic concerns. They face the arduous task of balancing the budget on meager state allocations, holding “popular” bond or levy elections, settling contentious negotiations, dealing with controversial political issues, addressing difficult personnel matters, and sensitively working with serious student behavior problems.

As superintendent, I appreciated the diversity of professional backgrounds and perspectives that board members brought to the table. I had the privilege of working with homemakers, farmers, attorneys, medical doctors, accountants, realtors, professors, dental hygienists, nurses, and small business owners.

Though we did not always agree on every issue, I felt this wide array of perspectives brought real strength to our collective decision making.

I have great respect for those serving as board members. On behalf of my colleagues across Idaho, may I express my sincere appreciation for your dedicated service to our students and staff. We are all beneficiaries of your selfless devotion to public education.

Despite all of the above, Idaho reminds me of the story of the rich young man in the New Testament, where despite all of the good things he was doing, Jesus tells him, “One thing thou lackest.”

The one area where we lack is trust. Idaho suffers from a significant trust deficit.

Legislators don’t trust that teachers understand curriculum, or know how to teach, teachers and administrators don’t trust that legislators will step up and provide necessary resources, the state board doesn’t trust the state department, the state department doesn’t trust the state board, administrators don’t trust the motives of the IEA, the IEA doesn’t trust administrators to evaluate correctly, legislators don’t trust the Governor, and all too often school boards and superintendents eye each other warily….

As a result, we have a time wasting, expensive, senseless SBAC test that doesn’t measure academic progress, a 24 page behemoth teacher evaluation rubric, principals frantically digging up “Artifacts” to prove their worth, a massive hoop jumping exercise so teachers can show they “Deserve” a raise, 98 school district override levies to counteract lack of state spending, state educational departments being yanked left and right, not to mention a multitude of finger pointing, name calling, mudslinging and general mistrust. Whew!

Sad. Very sad, unnecessary and exhausting.

In order for our state to improve and to work effectively we need to start trusting each other. Trust that motives are benign or well intentioned, trust that people are trying their level best, trust the intelligence, competency, and professionalism, of those around us.

If we truly want to move our state forward, we need to address the trust deficit. We have all the tools necessary to forge the very best for our children and grandchildren.

We are Idahoans and we can do better.

Due to the COVID-19 virus issues, perhaps many of you won’t have the opportunity to hear graduation speeches. Thus, I am pleased to provide you a brief summary of the advice I wish I would have received when graduating from high school.

Here goes:

1. Everyone is struggling with something.

When I was younger, my perception was that other people had life pretty easy. No worries, no problems, no issues etc… After being in charge of 1,000 employees and 5,400 students in Madison 321 for over 20 years, I realize now that EVERYONE and I mean everyone is wrestling with something.

More often than not, they struggle with issues that are not readily visible.

A smile that a person is wearing may be nothing more than, “I have decided to face another day the best I can.”

So, if you are feeling that you are having a rough time, please keep in mind so is everyone else, including the guy writing this article. Ask for help if you need it. There will be someone more than willing to do so.

2. Always be kind.

Be kind whenever possible, and it is always possible. To my detriment, and to the detriment of others, I far too often, have chosen to be right or try to prove a point vs. being kind. First and foremost, always be kind. Always.

3. Life is a competition with yourself. Period.

Someone else in the world is always smarter, stronger, wiser, more handsome or pretty, more giving, faster, richer, nicer etc…. If you find yourself competing against the world, and see life as a competition, you will always lose.

Just be the best version of you. Be the smartest, strongest, nicest person you can possibly be. That is competition enough.

4. Forgive.

Not because the other person deserves it, but you do. Forgiveness is freedom. You deserve the peace of mind that comes from true letting go.

Give yourself the promise of a new start by forgiving. Which includes forgiving yourself.

5. Satisfaction.

Satisfaction is the realization how blessed you truly are and being grateful for what you have.

During this time of the pandemic, for starters, I am grateful for good health, that I am a citizen of the USA, that I live in beautiful Idaho, that I am gainfully employed, have a family and friends etc… the gratitude / blessing list is truly endless.

6. Happiness.

Happiness cannot be traveled to, purchased, owned, worn or consumed. Happiness comes in brief moments of time well spent at work, in service to others, and with family and friends.

7. Be a lifelong learner.

Like my 3-year-old grandson, keep asking endless questions, especially why or why not? Engage frequently in good conversations, read often and well, think deeply, be curious.

What we don’t know is always vastly more than what we do know. Make it your goal in life to keep chipping away at the twin evils of ignorance and apathy.

8. Five people.

You will be the average of the five people with whom you associate most frequently. The average wealth, intellect, behavior, lifestyle, attitude, interests, skills, hobbies, etc….

Therefore, choose wisely.

9. Be Passionate.

There are a million great causes in the world. Get after it! Be enthusiastic! Get fired up! Let er buck! Be one of those unbridled people who are on fire with enthusiasm about something awesome!

10. Perseverance.

The world will move out of the way for the person who knows where they are going. Be headed somewhere.

Be determined. Have a worthwhile goal that really stretches you to the limit, and then move heaven and earth to get there.

Congratulations on your graduation, and best wishes to you!

Public education is the greatest discovery made by modern society. Through the continued investment in public education by our parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors, millions of children nationwide have been lifted from poverty and developed into intelligent, responsible, civic minded and economically productive citizens. 

Completely opposite as portrayed by Mr. Hoffman, public schools are truly neighborhood schools, where parents are readily welcomed into classrooms. 

Neighborhood schools and the school boards that represent them are the purest form of democracy. Dedicated school board members serve with no pay and (apparently no thanks from Mr. Hoffman) are elected directly by people in their neighborhood areas who know them best.

Public schools are entirely accountable. Teachers are held accountable by principals, who are held accountable by the superintendent who is held responsible by school board members, who are held accountable by the public.

Educators are readily accessible; people frequently stop me to discuss our schools, at the grocery store, in line waiting for a movie and even at church. I (and every Idaho educator) care about our children and the educational experience students are having.

Thus, we work to provide the best educational service possible with very positive results.

Madison enjoys a 99 percent graduation rate. Over 4,000 college credits were earned by students while in high school. More than 30 Madison High students scored over 30 on the ACT, well over $1 million in scholarship money was earned last year.

Madison has won six state academic championships this year alone, and we are ranked in the top two percent of schools nationally in speech and debate.

Several seniors will also attain their associates degree at graduation time. 

Madison vocational students have won state competitions and have placed nationally. A few years prior, the MHS – MJHS Robotics team took home a national championship.

Public education works and works exceedingly well!

In addition to our academic excellence, in our school-based service clubs, thousands of dollars, canned goods, clothing and educational supplies were raised and delivered to local charities by students. 

In public education, every child is welcomed into our schools regardless of race, religion, ethic background, ability to learn, handicapping condition or socio economic status.

Far from being “a virulent form of socialism and indoctrination” Idaho educators hail from diverse political ideological backgrounds and help instill patriotism and civic pride.

Plus, if we were so effective with “indoctrination” we’d probably start by having kids get to class on time!

Instead of just attacking schools, perhaps Mr. Hoffman should actually visit one and see the dedication, care and commitment made by teachers, support staff, administrators and school board members.

In a world of increasing intolerance and segregation, caring, community based, neighborhood public schools continue to be an excellent investment in our academic and economic future and for the strengthening of our state and nation.

Written by Geoff Thomas, superintendent of the Madison School District.