NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 8, 2014
Information Contact: Geoffrey Talmon (208) 258-2280 ext. 213
On Tuesday, Oct. 7, the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s Center for Defense of Liberty (CDoL), on behalf of Boise resident Jim Auld, filed a notice of tort claim against the Boise School District. The notice informed the district that CDoL believes certain provisions of the master contract between the district and the Boise Education Association violate the “gift clause” of the Idaho Constitution.
CDoL says the master contract grants employees paid leave to attend the association’s delegate assembly and attend union events that are “pertinent to association affairs.” The master contract also obligates the district to reimburse the association when a teacher takes a leave of absence to serve as president of the association.
Auld, a Boise businessman who describes him as a concerned taxpayer, says it’s time this is changed. “It seems to me it is only fitting that all taxpayer funds collected for the purpose of educating our children actually be used for that purpose.”
Geoff Talmon, director for CDoL, says the “gift clause” prohibits a school district from becoming responsible for any debt, contract or liability of any individual, association or corporation.
“These provisions of the contract make payments to the association and its members for their benefit rather than the benefit of the public. We believe this to be illegal, unauthorized and unconstitutional under the gift clause.”
The Boise School District has 90 days to respond to the notice.
A copy of the claim can be found HERE.
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