The Kevin Richert Podcast

This is final episode of this iteration of Idaho Education News weekly education podcast. Before we say goodbye, we had a full week go legislative action to recap. Co-host Clark Corbin is accepting another job at a new online journalism project in Idaho and will be leaving Idaho Education News. Listen all the way to the end of this week's episode to find out what co-host Kevin Richert's has planned for an upcoming spinoff of this podcast. Thank you so much to all our listeners for joining us...

Episode 245: How Idaho's 60 percent goal almost died

February 19, 2021 22:33 - 37 minutes - 51.1 MB

This week the State Board of Education nearly killed off one of the state's longtime education goals. For more than a decade the state has hoped to see 60 percent of Idaho's young adults hold a postsecondary degree or certificate to meet projected workforce needs. We'll explain what happened, plus recap a full week from the Legislature.

Episode 244: Schools Move Toward Reopening For In-Person Learning

February 12, 2021 21:36 - 43 minutes - 59.1 MB

This week three of Idaho's largest school districts moved toward reopening for in-person learning for all grades. Meanwhile, the Legislature weighed in with several bills addressing school closure authority and the removal of public health limits for crowds and gatherings.

Episode 243: Statehouse Debate Heats Up With Hot Button Issues Introduced

February 05, 2021 21:23 - 31 minutes - 42.9 MB

The action at the Idaho Statehouse picked up this week with the introduction of bills that cover a range of controversial topics from guns on school campuses to limitations on gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. We'll break down a busy week that sets the table for some big debates.

Episode 242: Inside Education Week At the Idaho Statehouse

January 29, 2021 22:08 - 33 minutes - 46.6 MB

One of the biggest weeks of the whole session, Education Week has come to a close at the Idaho Statehouse. This week Kevin and Clark share full coverage from a week of budget hearings and briefings. We'll explain why the higher education hearings — and the issues legislators focused on — were particularly interesting this year.

Episode 241: One step closer to normal, teachers turn out in force for vaccine

January 22, 2021 23:02 - 34 minutes - 47 MB

This week we reported on personal stories from teachers across the state who shared their decisions about the coronavirus vaccine. For the last week, teachers have been at the top of the state''s priority list and they are turning out in large numbers to get shots. Plus, a look at political showdown that is escalating inside the Statehouse as the second week of the legislative session comes to a close.

Episode 240: The 2021 Legislative Session Kicks Off

January 15, 2021 20:46 - 42 minutes - 58.4 MB

Editor's Note: We added a footnote at the end of this week's episode to reflect the state of Idaho revised its vaccine data on Jan. 15, the date this episode was published. The Idaho Legislature kicked off its 2021 legislative session in Boise this week, gathering for an in-person session as the coronavirus continues to spread. We'll break down the highlights from Gov. Brad Little's State of the State address and education budget proposals. Plus we'll add go through the latest vaccine tim...

Episode 239: An Uncertain Legislative Session Looms

January 08, 2021 21:11 - 43 minutes - 59.1 MB

Idaho is gearing up for an uncertain, and possibly unsafe, legislative session that kicks off Monday. This week we look at issues of safety and access amid the coronavirus pandemic. We also break down some of the big education issues that are expected to create debate this year.

Episode 238: 2020 Year in Review

December 23, 2020 18:48 - 40 minutes - 55 MB

From education to politics to sports to our personal lives, the coronavirus pandemic changed everything in 2020. With the year about to end and new legislative session on the horizon, we take a step back and review what changed this year, how it changed and what might start to happen next.

Episode 237: Questions Emerge About Upcoming Legislative Session

December 11, 2020 21:11 - 41 minutes - 56.3 MB

This week Gov. Brad Little said legislators should seriously consider delaying the legislative session until a vaccine is available or moving to a more remote format. House Minority Leader Illana Rubel. D-Boise, also said legislature should delay the 2021 session. With only a month to go until the scheduled opening day, many questions remain.

Episode 236: A Closer Look at Idaho's New Senate Education Committee Chairman

December 04, 2020 21:41 - 45 minutes - 62.7 MB

The Legislature was back in Boise this week, for a few days in any way. In preparation for the upcoming 2021 session, Senate leaders named a new Senate Education Committee chairman. We'll discuss Sen. Steven Thayn's background, and explain how a House leadership race cost one lawmaker her spot on the joint budget committee.

Episode 235: As Coronavirus Cases Spike, News of Vaccine Offers Hope

November 20, 2020 18:53 - 37 minutes - 51.3 MB

This week Idaho set grim records for the number of new coronavirus cases and COVID-19 deaths. Schools continue to navigate a difficult set of circumstances attempting to keep their buildings open. But news of a vaccine offers a ray of hope. We'll break what we know about Idaho's vaccine plans.

Episode 234: Schools Face Gut-Wrenching Decisions As Virus Spreads

November 13, 2020 23:00 - 41 minutes - 56.7 MB

This week we take a closer look at the the Boise School District's decision to move to full remote learning in the face of rising coronavirus cases and operational strains at every corner. Unless the pandemic is put under control, more districts may soon find themselves in Boise's position.

Episode 233: Breaking Down Election 2020 Results

November 06, 2020 20:24 - 41 minutes - 56.7 MB

This week we scratch under the surface of Idaho's statewide 2020 election results. Amid record turnout, voters delivered a deep red result that allows the Republicans to expand their supermajority in the Legislature. We'll take a closer look at particularly interesting district in Boise. We'll also consider how a couple of county commission races can affect education.

Episode 232: When The Numbers Become The Story

October 30, 2020 22:40 - 48 minutes - 66.8 MB

Idaho is in a crisis with the coronavirus pandemic Gov. Brad Little said this week as he announced new restrictions for Idaho. The pushback was swift. Some Idahoans said the governor's modest response doesn't do enough to slow the spread the virus. Others said the governor has done too much to restrict liberty and harm the economy. This week, we break down some of the numbers behind our top stories — the pandemic response, new student enrollment numbers, K-3 test results and teacher evaluat...

Episode 231: West Ada Returns to School But Challenges Remain

October 23, 2020 20:35 - 42 minutes - 58.7 MB

Hundreds of teachers called in sick Monday and Tuesday, forcing the state's largest school district to cancel school for two days. Although classes have resumed, division and challenges remain. In many ways West Ada's story is indicative of the issues facing districts all across the state.

Episode 230 West Ada Teachers Plan Massive Sick Days In Protest Of In-Person Learning

October 16, 2020 20:29 - 38 minutes - 53.3 MB

Idaho's largest school district is bracing for more than 700 teachers to call in sick on Monday in protest of continuing in-person learning under the highest COVID-19 risk classification. We're not really sure what will happen yet, but the district has said it can't cover the absences as of now.

Episode 229: Troubling Trends with the Coronavirus

October 09, 2020 21:22 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MB

COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Idaho. This week, a report from the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommends moving to online school in Idaho counties with high case numbers. The report suggests increases in COVID-19 cases among 12-17 year-olds may be linked to school reopening. The White House task force also recommends moving University of Idaho, Boise State University and Brigham Young University-Idaho to online instruction. We'll break down the latest from a busy week.

Episode 228: College Campuses Become a Flashpoint In Idaho's Coronavirus Battle

October 02, 2020 20:57 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MB

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says students returning to college is one of the factors driving an increase in COVID-19 cases. The numbers show that several university campuses are experiencing sharp increases in COVID-19 cases. This week, outbreaks led the University of Idaho to allow virtual teaching this week.

Episode 227: A Sobering Week For School Reopening

September 25, 2020 23:11 - 35 minutes - 49 MB

It was a sobering week on the school reopening front across the state. Middleton's superintendent announced that district employee died after contracting COVID-19. Meanwhile, schools and districts from North Start Charter to Glenns Ferry to Emmett are moving to online learning or temporarily closing in the wake of multiple confirmed cases.

Episode 226: Funding, furloughs and football

September 18, 2020 22:05 - 39 minutes - 54.4 MB

Across the state, schools, colleges and universities continue to navigate reopening and dealing with the pandemic. The fallout touches so many areas. This week, we discuss the plan to offset K-12 public schools budget cuts. Plus we take a look at higher education, where colleges and universities are bracing for furloughs and hoping for a return of football.

Episode 225: Little Plans To Offset $99 Million Education Holdbacks Mixdown

September 11, 2020 21:14 - 36 minutes - 50.4 MB

Today Gov. Brad Little requested $99 million in feral relief money to offset state cuts to the K-12 public school budget. On this week's show we'll explain the proposal, break down what we know about how the money can be used and talk about the budget news that let up to Little's announcement.

Episode 224: School Reopening Is Local Control In Action

September 04, 2020 20:09 - 37 minutes - 51.4 MB

Schools continue come back in session this week, and the plans are literally all over the map. That's by design, of course. Gov. Little and the State Board of Education asked local school boards to come up with their own reopening plans. On this week's episode we'll discuss how its going and highlight the areas where policy and politics collide.

Episode 223: A Wild Special Legislative Session Plays Out During the Pandemic

August 28, 2020 20:58 - 38 minutes - 52.6 MB

This week the Idaho Legislature convened for a rare special session to address issues related to the coronavirus pandemic. It went off the rails before the session was even gaveled in as large crowds became unruly and ignored masking and social distance rules.

Episode 222: It's Been A Shaky Start As Idaho Heads Back to School

August 21, 2020 21:21 - 35 minutes - 49.1 MB

This week a number of school districts and charters started back to school. Some schools reopening for the first time since the early days of the pandemic. But there were challenges across the state, from staffing concerns, to delays in student devices arriving, to scarcity of basics like sanitizing wipes. Meanwhile, some teachers and at least one entire high school football team are in quarantine after potential exposure to COVID-19.

Episode 221: Latinos Are More Wary of Sending Kids Back to School

August 14, 2020 21:29 - 26 minutes - 36.2 MB

For this week's episode Sami Edge of Idaho Education News and Nicole Foy of the Idaho Statesman discuss the latest story from their ongoing Latino Listening Project. Sami and Nicole discuss what concerns they heard from Latino and Hispanic families who are worried about returning to school amid the coronavirus.

Episode 220: School Reopening Realities and School Reopening Rhetoric

August 07, 2020 22:24 - 42 minutes - 57.8 MB

As the first day of school draws closer, more and more Idaho students are gearing up for online and blended learning. We'll break down what we know from the state's three largest school districts and what Gov. Brad Little said during his school reopening press confer this week.

Episode 219: Idaho's Evolving School Reopening Debate

July 31, 2020 20:54 - 38 minutes - 52.4 MB

With only two weeks remaining until the first day of school in some areas families, teachers and administrators are grappling with how to return in the fall. We'll explain why the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and a spike in cases is overtaking reopening plans in some of the state's largest school districts.

Episode 218: Teachers Express Safety Concerns As First Day of School Draws Closer

July 17, 2020 21:15 - 39 minutes - 53.5 MB

With the first day of school only a month away, teachers are starting to react to the state's reopening guidance that came out last week. Overall, teachers said they miss their students, they want to go back for in-person instruction and they want to know the state and schools have a plan to do that safely.

Episode 217: The Policy And Politics Of Reopening Schools

July 10, 2020 20:46 - 39 minutes - 54.8 MB

This week Gov. Brad Little released Idaho's guidance for reopening schools. At the highest levels of government, from Little on up to President Trump, officials are encouraging and expecting schools to reopen at the end of the summer. With only five weeks remaining until the first day of school, we'll try to put it all in perspective.

Episode 216: State Responds To Increase In Boise Coronavirus Cases

June 26, 2020 21:23 - 37 minutes - 51.8 MB

Over the past week, COVID-219 cases have been on the rise in Boise and other communities. We'll explain the response, which included moving Ada County back to to stage three, limiting group sizes there and closing Boise State University's campus.

The Kevin Richert Podcast

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