The Idaho State Board of Education hosted their latest two-day board meeting June 17-18 in Pocatello. Idaho State University hosted the event.
On the first day, the board discussed the future of standardized tests, a reading coach program and ISU’s annual report. Idaho’s education leaders are looking into some alternatives to standardized tests and graduation requirements that would be “more aligned to pathways,” according to the Board of Education.
Idaho is also looking to train educators in the SMART Reading program, with the intent to place reading coaches in classrooms around the state. Placements would be primarily need-based.
ISU then presented its annual report, sharing its collaboration work with the College of Eastern Idaho and the College of Southern Idaho. The schools have worked closely to streamline transfers from the community colleges to ISU’s four-year degree programs.
In the morning session of June 18, the board started with an open forum, where they heard from community member Dave Smith. Smith has multiple generations of connections to Idaho higher education — his parents, in-laws, child and himself have all earned multiple degrees from various Idaho universities.
Smith asked the Board of Education to stand up for educators in the face of the recently passed SB 1198, titled “Freedom of Inquiry in Higher Education.” The law restricts “diversity, equity and inclusion-related” topics in public higher education institutions.
“Senate Bill 1198 has marked a dark and deeply troubling shift in the landscape of public higher education in Idaho,” Smith said. “We must be honest about what it is: a law that censors truth, targets vulnerable students and strips colleges and universities of the tools needed to create environments where all learners can thrive.”
The Board of Education also approved the Fiscal Year 2026 operating budgets for educational institutions; reimbursement for ISU’s new life sciences building; board policy changes to annual planning and reporting, statewide general education and post-secondary program review and approval; and appointments to the Medical Education Plan Working Group.
Regarding the state of Idaho’s medical education programs, the board discussed Lewis-Clark State College’s proposal for a direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing degree. While LCSC already has an MSN program, the direct-entry program would allow those with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than nursing direct entry into a graduate nursing degree.
The board also mentioned that the University of Idaho had previously requested approval for a direct-entry MSN program last August, but was denied. Information on UI’s MSN program is limited.
The board voted to approve LCSC’s program to start in the fall and asked Idaho universities to come to the Aug. 20 meeting with ideas for collaboration.
Boise State University representatives updated the board on their search for a new president for the university. They have a positive outlook and said that the application window would be closing at the end of July.
The board approved UI’s requests to dissolve Four Three Education, Inc., the organization created for the University of Phoenix acquisition, which has recently been canceled and to resolve litigation around IP addresses.
UI had two primary proposals for the board: a new budget for housing projects and the long-range campus development plan, also known as Vision 2050.
The university first requested additional funding of up to $25 million for student housing projects. Brian Foisy, UI’s vice president of finance and administration, presented the plan to the board.
UI’s housing development and renovations plans cover the South Hill Apartments, Theophilus Tower and Wallace Residence Center.
In South Hill, the university will continue plans to demolish 161 out of 431 beds. New construction will include 232 single graduate student beds, 180 family beds and the Village Commons Community Center, a community building for the South Hill complex.
Renovations to the existing facilities will affect 406 beds in Theophilus Tower and 986 beds in Wallace Residence Center.
Foisy also announced estimated phases and opening dates for the projects:
- Theophilus Tower, Phase I Renovation: Aug. 2025
- Wallace Residence Center, Stevenson Wing Renovation: Jan. 2026
- South Hill Apartments, New Construction: Aug. 2026
- Wallace Residence Center, Ballard Wing Renovation: Aug. 2026
- Theophilus Tower, Phase II Renovation: Aug. 2026
- Wallace Residence Center, Gooding Wing Renovation: Jan. 2027
- Wallace Residence Center, Willey Wing Renovation: Aug. 2027
- Theophilus Tower, Phase III Renovation: Aug. 2027
UI is about 25% complete with the housing project, according to Foisy. Despite requesting additional funding for the FY 2026, the total project budget has decreased by almost $9 million from where it was last November. The university is also reportedly ahead of schedule on the project.
Based on surveys conducted by UI, this project only accounts for 50% of the identified demand for housing construction in the community. The Board of Education approved the additional funding.
Also on UI’s agenda was Vision 2050, a campus-wide development plan that began in 2024. After a year and a half of seeking input from stakeholders, the university finally brought the project to the state for approval.
Near-term development plans include:
- Sixth Street Pedestrian Mall Conversion, spanning from Stadium Drive to Line Street
- P1FCU Kibbie Dome West Addition
- Student Recreation Center expansion
- Vandal Athletic Center renovations and expansion
- Memorial Gym renovations
- Vandal Tennis Center
- Improvements to parking lots 57 and 110, the Economy and Blue lots next to the Kibbie Dome; work will likely include paving the lots, as they are currently unpaved
- Applied Engineering and Science Facility
- Vandal Wellness Center, to be located on the north side of the Living Learning Communities
- D.A. Huckabay, M.D./Idaho WWAMI Medical Education Building expansion
- College of Natural Resources building renovations and expansion
- A new Children’s Center, to be located on Farm Road and Perimeter Drive on the Guy Wicks Field
- Joint Military Science and Veteran’s Assistance Center where Targee Hall is currently located
- A new academic building, to be located on Sweet Avenue next to the Intermodal Transit Center
- A Legacy Crossing mixed-use building on the east side of campus
The university also plans to begin construction for a pedestrian bridge across Paradise Creek in July.
The Board of Education approved the project.
Finally, the Idaho Public Charter School Commission is accepting applications for the director position in Boise. Applications will close on July 14 at 5 p.m. MST.
Dakota Steffen can be reached at [email protected].