JFAC And The Public Hearings On Education

There was standing room only as lawmakers on the panel that writes Idaho's budget held their first public hearing in state history and took testimony on public schools. Less than an hour into the  hearing Friday, lawmakers were already getting an earful on the impact of budget cuts in the classroom and a plan to overhaul schools with more technology and fewer teachers. Lauren Peters sobbed while telling lawmakers how the loss of funding had devastated her community, where her son's high school no longer had a band to play pomp and circumstance when he graduates later this year. Hundreds of teachers and parents filled the auditorium, with overflow crowds filling nearby hearing rooms. More than 130 people had signed up to testify as the hearing got under way