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Idaho State University receives large grant for school psychology program – Local News 8

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Idaho State University receives large grant for school psychology program – Local News 8


POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho State University School Psychology Department was recently awarded a $4.5 million grant from the US Department of Education to address a lack of mental health professionals in Idaho schools.

Dr. Joel Bocanegra, chair of ISU’s School Psychology Department, applied for the grant with colleagues Dr.’s Howard Fan, Erika Coles, and Jenn Gallup in an effort to start a program that would staff school psychologists in rural areas.

“There’s certain locales in Idaho where, due to isolation and other variables, school psychologists are hard to come by,” said Dr. Bocanegra. “The idea is to provide funding so these students in these communities, people in the community, can come, be trained, and go back to the communities.”

The grant money will be used to cover the tuition of eligible students majoring in school psychology for three years plus an internship. In exchange, graduates of the program will spend three years working in high need school districts in Idaho post-graduation.

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Dr. Bocanegra said that, ideally, there should be one school psychologist per 500 K-12 students–currently, in Idaho, there is about one school psychologist for every 1,700 students.

The disparity, according to Dr. Bocanegra, comes from the exclusivity of the masters-only school psychology program–but, by providing tuition coverage and raising awareness of the program, he hopes the ‘grow your own’ model will attract more students who can return home armed with the knowledge to help local schools.

“We need to get people in the field, we also want people that can stay in the field,” said Dr. Bocanegra. “Having people that can understand the community, go back to the communities where they have the connections, have the history, the roots, the families there… that’s kind of one of the goals.”

For more information, you can visit the Idaho State University School Psychology Department website.

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Pro Skijor debuts new tour, and this extreme winter sport will stop in the Treasure Valley

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Pro Skijor debuts new tour, and this extreme winter sport will stop in the Treasure Valley


Skijor Boise will be one of the stops on a new professional skijoring tour. The action-packed event will happen at the Ford Idaho Center on Feb. 6th and 7th.

The Nampa event will be one of seven stops for the new Frontier Tour in the Rocky Mountain region, with another being in eastern Idaho in Driggs. Local competitors McKinley Keener and Caroline Potter look forward to competing.

WATCH: See skijoring in action and more from McKinley and Caroline

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Pro Skijor debuts new tour and this extreme winter sport will stop in the Treasure Valley

“We are really excited to have a hometown race,” said Keener. “I think it was smart to bring a race to the Treasure Valley with the horse culture and the ski culture. I think it is a win-win idea.”

Skijoring is a unique sport that is gaining traction in the West. During the event, a horseback rider pulls a skier on a rope, and that skier has to navigate gates, jumps and grab rings. The horseback rider also has to grab a ring, depending on the venue.

RELATED | Extreme skijoring brings two different cultures together in the Wood River Valley

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We first met McKinley and Caroline last winter during the Wood River Valley skijoring competition. They won the couple’s division and finished second and third in the novice division.

“We won this buckle and the vest I’m wearing at the Wood River race,” said Potter. “It’s a fantastic race, the people who put it on are wonderful. That race will always be special to McKinley and I because we met there.”

The couple met two years ago at the competition, and this past summer, they got engaged.

“I’ve been riding since I was in grade school, and he’s been skiing since he was really young,” said Potter. “We both let each other do our thing, and as a team we really do well.”

Their story showcases how unique skijoring is, bringing together both the equine and skiing communities.

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Caroline with Flint and Nash

“Skijoring is the craziest and funnest sport in my opinion,” said Keener. “I just love it, it is a rush. The people are fantastic, and it is like nothing else I have ever done,” said Potter.

In skijouring a horse pulls a skier through a course

This duo looks forward to competing in their own backyard, as it will allow friends and family to watch them in action. Skijor Boise will happen at the beginning of February, and the Wood River event will follow it in mid-February.

Skijouring brings two different cultures together.

“We hope everyone can come out and watch,” said Potter. “It is a wonderful time, there is never a dull moment at a skijor race. I highly recommend it to come out and maybe even try it.”

For Canyon County happenings, news, and more— join our Facebook Group: 2C Neighborhood News – Nampa, Caldwell, Middleton





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Idaho State Police

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Idaho State Police


What is the New Entrant Safety Audit? When a carrier obtains interstate operating authority and/or a USDOT number, FMCSA places the carrier in the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program for a period that typically ranges from 12 to 18 months. During this period, a safety audit is conducted to verify that the carrier has an […]



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Idaho DOGE Task Force shares potential list of state programs, agencies to combine or eliminate

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Idaho DOGE Task Force shares potential list of state programs, agencies to combine or eliminate


The leaders of Idaho’s DOGE Task Force floated the possibility of combining, consolidating, cutting or eliminating more than 70 Idaho government departments, programs, agencies or commissions during a meeting Thursday at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. The Idaho DOGE Task Force – named for the federal Department of Government Efficiency that was helmed at […]



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