Shoshone Schools Miss Out on Race to the Top

January 21, 2010

SHOSHONE — The Shoshone School District will lose out on possible federal grant funding because the union representing the district’s teachers didn’t endorse participation in the federal Race to the Top grant program, despite support by the Idaho Education Association.

School trustees on Jan. 12 discussed the Shoshone Education Association (an affiliate of IEA) declining to sign off on district participation in the competitive federal grant program that encourages and gives financial rewards for improving student achievement.

School trustees and Superintendent Mel Wiseman declared their support.

“My understanding is we cannot participate without all three signatures, so no the district will not participate,” Wiseman said.

“They (local union) just said they had more questions about the grant,” he said.

Wiseman said teachers’ union support for the federal program varies by district.

The state has applied for the Race to the Top grant and school districts are encouraged to participate. The program in Idaho and across the nation is funded from $4.35 billion that the U.S. secretary of education has set aside out of the $100 billion of stimulus funding that is earmarked for education.

In other business, the board approved a brochure and application for the superintendent search process.

Wiseman has announced his intention to retire in July.