PRIEST RIVER — West Bonner County School District trustees are concerned that state cuts to the Idaho Home Learning Academy could have an impact on the district’s students.

Trustee Robert Bauer said in his report to the board that the IHLA was facing around a 40% budget reduction for the upcoming year. Bauer added House Bill 622 was set to reduce access to the program while decreasing its funding. 

“For the rural schools, it is an incredible opportunity, and it is one way we're able to offer classes, have students take classes without going out,” Trustee Margaret Hall said. “So, it is something to really look closely at and where it is, because I think it's damaging to us as a school district.” 

The legislatively created program is a virtual school that allows students to take a wider variety of classes that meet state standards while being enrolled in a public school. Under HB 622, the program would be further restricted to students in 6th through 12th grade, instead of being a K-12 program. 

Hall said that concerns her because some elementary school students in WBCSD have used the program to kickstart their education at a young age. 

“There's some real things that are being lost there that I think we've benefited from over the last year,” Hall said. 

During the meeting, Kendra Salesky, the district’s business manager, said that WBCSD has already formed a team to search for alternatives for the program. The team consists of herself, Superintendent Kim Spacek, Priest River High School Principal Vanessa Haggett and PRHS Dean of Students Tommy Hasen. 

“It's one of those things that I think slips past a lot of us voters, because we don't understand that until we're hit with it like this,” Salesky said. “It is a great program, and it really does help our high school students, and those sixth graders, that we have who are looking for a little higher education.” 

The IHLA has come under fire in the Legislature due to a report that was released in December from the Office of Performance Evaluations, an oversight board of the Legislature. In the report, the OPE found that IHLA moved $22.5 million in taxpayer funds to savings, which was set to be spent on teacher’s salaries and benefits, 

According to Idaho EdNews, the OPE further found that the IHLA moved $20.6 million to a trio of private education vendors last year. The OPE report referred to IHLA’s practices as a “policy gray area” and recommended the Legislature develop a more detailed funding framework for virtual schools like the IHLA. 

HB 622 is being put forward by Rep. James Petzke, R-Meridian, is meant to address Governor Brad Little’s budget cuts in addition to address concerns around the program’s funding. As of Feb. 11, the bill has been referred to the House Education committee for discussion and a vote. 

“That’s going to be a hard one for the district,” Salesky said of the cuts to IHLA. “That cut is really hurting our student population.”