COEUR d'ALENE - Boise hasn't seen the last of Coeur d'Alene's former state Sen. John Goedde. He's going to work for the governor.

Goedde said Monday he has accepted a contract that will last through the legislative session to work on the governor's Idaho Education Network project.

The Idaho Education Network is a project to get broadband Internet service into every high school in Idaho, and eventually every middle school and grade school, too.

The project suffered a setback recently when a judge ruled that the bidding process used to award a contract to a broadband provider was flawed, Goedde said.

The governor's deputy chief of staff for health care issues also left, to take a job with Boise State University.

"If the governor wasn't in a spot, I probably wouldn't have taken the job," Goedde said. "And I would like to see this project through. It is near and dear to my heart."

Goedde said he doesn't have a title. He is simply part of a team trying to find the best way to advance the project. Once the team agrees on a recommendation, that's when Goedde's senatorial experience comes into play.

"Once we have something, it will be my job to sell it to the Legislature," he said, adding he started work on Dec. 17 from his home in Coeur d'Alene.

Goedde said he will be paid $4,000 per month until the end of the legislative session, but he will not receive per diem to cover his expenses.

"I will be paying for all of my travel, food and lodging," he said. "When you factor all of that in, it really isn't that much money."

Goedde said he plans to fly home weekly because he and his wife are building a new home, and that will require some of his attention as well.