It’s been a while since our last newsletter! Happy to be back, and there’s plenty to go over.
Do you know who’s picking your child’s curriculum?
Curriculum content standards are established at the state level. Then each school district, through the local school boards, adopts its own curriculum standards and determines how the standards are taught. Local district standards may exceed, but not fall short of, state standards. Your local school board members have significant influence over each child’s education.
Heads up! A lot of Local School Board elections will occur this November and it’s more important than ever for all of us who have a stake in Idaho’s future – parents, educators, business owners, neighbors, voting age students – to turn out and vote.
Local school boards are under attack by the Idaho Freedom Foundation, specifically its member and analyst, Branden Durst, who is targeting public schools. When running for State Superintendent of Education in 2022, Durst said he supports “[a] push for a statewide system that would have public and private schools competing over dollars.”
Durst, a controversial public figure at best, was recently appointed Superintendent of West Bonner County School District #83; however, he is already undergoing scrutiny by citizens of West Bonner County who question his qualifications and whether he is suitable for the job. Click here to read more!
It’s more important than ever to know who your local School Board members are. While it’s still too early to tell you everyone that’s running for your School District, you can check which school district you live in at the following link.
https://www.greatschools.org/school-district-boundaries-map/
When we know more about who is running for school board, we will be putting information about them on our website at https://www.adademocrats.org/
Idaho Families Join the Fight
The families of two transgender teens – in conjunction with Idaho’s American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) chapter – filed a lawsuit to block enforcement of Idaho’s ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors. The ban (HB-71) was signed into law by Gov. Little in April and is scheduled to take effect January 2024.
ACLU lawyers state that the law makes it a felony for doctors to prescribe puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and surgery for minors – but only in cases in which it is to help align their bodies with their gender identities. The same treatments are allowed for cisgender children with hormone imbalances or many other reasons.
At least 20 Republican controlled states have enacted similar laws and most have been challenged in court. It’s still too early for lawsuit outcomes, however some states have opted to suspend enactment of similar laws until outcomes are determined.
Click here to read more!
Raul Labrador – What are you afraid of?
Last month the organization Reclaim Idaho joined up with the new group Idahoans for Open Primaries to form a coalition to put election reform on the ballot. The “Open Primaries Initiative” has been filed with the State and will be distributed for signatures later this month to qualify for a place on the November ballot.
This Open Primary would function like the “Ranked Choice Voting” used in Alaska’s primary elections last year. Alaskan voters liked it because they saw it as a way for each voter to have their voice heard, their vote count.
Raul Labrador has been loud and clear how much he doesn’t like it. He believes that political parties should control who votes in primary elections vs supporting voters’ rights to vote for candidates they choose. He’s afraid of the initiative because it will allow all Idaho voters to have a voice in primary elections.
Mr. Attorney General: it is not your job to preach your political views to Idahoans, it is your job to review initiatives before they are circulated for signature and “recommend…revision or alteration…deemed…appropriate”. Period.
Save the Date for the Gracie Pfost Gala – September 23, 2023!
Join fellow Democrats at the biggest event of the Summer! Named for Idaho’s first congresswoman, Gracie Pfost (pronounced “post”), Gracie’s Gala is the Ada County Democrats’ biennial dinner to raise funds for our 2024 election programs.
We’re excited to announce that our special guest is Anderson Clayton. She is the Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. Anderson was elected chair of the NCDP in 2023 at the age of 25 and is the youngest chairperson of any state Democratic party.
A North Carolina native, Anderson was elected chair of the Person County Democratic Party in 2021. She knows what it’s like organizing rural counties in competitive states. Anderson started her political activism as an undergraduate at Appalachian State University registering voters. She has worked on congressional and senate campaigns and as a field organizer for Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren. She is also a gifted and inspiring public speaker.
Tables are on sale now, and prices go up August 1. Get your friends together and buy a table for ten people for only $900! The price will be $1,000 on August 1 and individual ticket prices will increase to $120 on Sept. 1. If you’d like access to social hour hors d’oeuvres, free bottles of wine, party favors and a table near the stage, you can get a premium table for ten for only $2024.
For more information and to buy your tickets, click here: https://adademocrats.afrogs.org/#/index
It will be a great night; buy your tickets now!
Events
Garden Party with the District 14 Democrats
Appetizers, Drinks, and good company!
Special guest speakers Kaylee Peterson and Terri Pickens!
Monday, June 26th at 6:00 PM235 W Floating Feather Rd