NAMPA, Idaho — On Wednesday the State Board of Education made a change to instructional day minimums in response to the increasing number of 4-day schools.

• The minimum number of instructional days in a school year has been increased to 152.
• The Department found that schools on a five-day calendar averaged 172 instructional days. That’s 26 more days than the four-day calendar average of 146 instructional days.
• At the end of this school year the Nampa School District became the next, and largest, school district in Idaho to make the switch to a four-day school week.

RELATED| Impacts for the YMCA and Nampa Police Department as Nampa Schools move to four-day school weeks

(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story.)

At the end of this school year the Nampa School District became the next, and largest, school district in Idaho to make the switch to a four-day school week. On Wednesday the State Board of Education made a change to instructional day minimums in response to the increasing number of 4-day schools.

State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield and the Department of Ed team worked with education stakeholders to adjust the minimum number of instructional days in a school year to 152. The Department found that schools on a five-day calendar averaged 172 instructional days — 26 more days than the four-day calendar average of 146 instructional days. During the most recent legislative session, two bills were signed into law requiring schools to meet a minimum instructional hours to be eligible to receive state funding.

Back in January, Superintendent Critchfield outlined her opinions on four-day school weeks in an open letter.

Critchfield saying she “doesn’t support 4-day weeks if they are being considered as a money-saving alternative… little to no money would be saved in the long run.”

In that letter she also urged districts to do what’s best for students rather than what is desired by the adult workforce.

I’ve been following Nampa’s schedule shifts this year for you and I’ve also spoken with the Vallivue School District that spans across Nampa and Caldwell and, while they explored a four-day week in 2020, they decided it was not in their students’ best interest and have no plans to explore it in the future.

The order indicates that water rights junior to March 31, 1954, in those six districts are now subject to curtailment.

The six groundwater districts found to be in noncompliance with an approved mitigation plan are:
• Bingham Ground Water District
• Bonneville-Jefferson Ground Water District
• Jefferson-Clark Ground Water District
• Magic Valley Ground Water District
• Carey Valley Ground Water District
• North Snake Ground Water District

“It is surprising to us that six groundwater districts would choose not to live by the terms of either of their approved mitigation plans and subject their members to curtailment,” said Brian Patton, Deputy Director of IDWR.

Under Idaho water law, water users with senior water rights have priority over water users with junior rights. On the Eastern Snake River Plain, IDWR administers both surface and groundwater resources together as one whole, or “conjunctively.” In general, groundwater rights are junior to surface water rights.

The 74,100 acre-foot shortfall is based on a number of factors including mountain snowpack, reservoir content, irrigation need, and aquifer conditions.

In this video, in response to the possibility of water curtailment, Idaho farmers say, “We’re all going to fail.”

IDHW released an update on June 6:

“On Wednesday, June 5, two Magic Valley-area ground water districts – North Snake and Magic Valley – filed notice with the Idaho Department of Water Resources (Department) demonstrating that they are now operating under an approved mitigation plan, officials said Thursday.

In response to North Snake’s and Magic Valley’s filings, the Surface Water Coalition delivered a notice of non-objection to the Department supporting the ground water district’s filings conditioned on adherence to their approved 2016 mitigation plan for the remainder of the irrigation season. As a result, approximately 2,400 junior ground water rights owned by members of those two districts will be protected from curtailment under the Department’s May 30 curtailment order.”

All IDWR news releases can be found here.

From this informative article, Idaho Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld said,

“[Idaho ground water users] should have considered all factors before planting their crops, opting for those that require less water. As junior rights holders, they are aware that they must keep in mind the senior rights holders. Because the senior rights holders are further down the line, we have to trust that they will only take what is allotted to them. When they do not, it curtails the farmers in the Magic Valley, forcing them to figure out how to finish the year. I am disheartened that this issue could not have been resolved without resorting to social media, which has caused public upset over possible curtailment of farmers if they don’t comply. We are doomed if we cannot handle these issues more constructively.

I know this to be true: no farmer wishes to see another lose crops. They all understand how vital every part of the agricultural community is to the livelihood of Idaho.”

According to this article, IDWR spokesman Steve Stuebner told East Idaho News on June 10 that although the curtailment was scheduled to take effect next Monday, the involved parties are discussing and working to come to an agreement. He said,

“Water users are working behind the scenes today to work out a deal for this water season, but nothing has been finalized as yet.”

On June 11, Idaho Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke sent out a news release saying,

“Surface water and groundwater users are currently negotiating an agreement to avoid the water curtailment order from the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR)…

“Since the last agreement between the surface water and groundwater users eight years ago, we have learned a couple of things for what a long-term solution requires: it must include an averaging component or details around the concept of water blocking. Our farmers deserve to know what their water allotment will be each year before they plant to meet their business and other obligations.”

“Agreements between farmers and water users are always better than ones made by the government or in a courtroom. I am optimistic that our water users will find a path forward that can meet the requirements for 2024, as well as come back to the table to craft an agreement to ensure our future generations have access to a predictable water supply.”

Bedke PR

 

Feature photo by abovethenorthwest shows waterfalls in Idaho’s Thousand Springs State Park

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Tags: Agriculture, Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, Glenneda Zuiderveld, ground water districts, Idaho Department of Water Resources, Idaho Farmers, IDWR, Irrigation, junior water rights, Magic Valley, Scott Bedke, senior water rights, Steve Stuebner, Water, water curtailment, Water Rights

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BOISE, Idaho – The longest serving Lottery Director in Idaho history has announced his retirement after 17 ½ years of service to the people of the Gem State.  Jeff Anderson, the State of Idaho’s Director for both the Idaho Lottery and the Idaho State Liquor Division will retire on July 26, 2024, one week after the Idaho Lottery commemorates its 35th Anniversary.

“I have had the honor and privilege to be given the trust and stewardship of two outstanding Idaho agencies from two exceptional Governors,” said Anderson.  “Both agencies require leadership that’s in alignment with the sensibility of Idaho’s citizens. I am proud that we have always earned the public’s trust with high integrity while responsibly delivering nearly $2.2 billion in financial benefits for the people of Idaho.”

Anderson was appointed Director of the Idaho Lottery in January 2007 by Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter.  In April 2010, Governor Otter appointed him as Liquor Division Director.  In January of 2019, Governor Little appointed Anderson to serve the citizens in the same two roles.

Since 2007, under Anderson’s leadership, the Idaho Lottery has returned $938 million to support public education and permanent facilities.  This includes responsibly setting new dividend records fourteen times.  In 2014, the Idaho Lottery was recognized by lottery industry associations, Public Gaming Research Institute and the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, as the highest performing jurisdiction in the United States.

In April 2010, Governor Otter temporarily appointed Anderson to be Director of the Idaho State Liquor Division.  This “temporary” assignment is one Anderson has held for over fourteen years.  During that time, the Liquor Division has delivered record transfers thirteen times, $1.2 billion in total, for use by the State, counties, and cities across Idaho.

“I have been fortunate to work with two remarkable teams. The success of the Idaho Lottery and the Liquor Division are a result of the determined efforts of the fine, hard-working, dedicated team members at both agencies,” added Anderson.  “In the future, I look forward to more time with my children and their families, all of whom live in and around the capital city.”

During his tenure, Anderson represented Idaho nationally, serving as President of the Multi-State Lottery Association Board of Directors, the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries Board of Directors, and Chairman of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) Board of Directors.  Anderson has served as the Idaho Lottery’s Director for half of its operational existence.  He is one of the longest tenured United States Lottery directors and the longest serving NABCA director.

Anderson came to state service after twenty-eight years in broadcasting.  His last ten years were as Vice President and General Manager of CBS television affiliates KBOI (Boise) and KIDK (Idaho Falls).

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