Stan Olson, the Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction, introduced himself to attendees of his party's state conference at the Coeur d'Alene Casino in Worley Friday. Olson, currently serving as the superintendent of the Boise School District, criticized his opponent, Republican Tom Luna, for not having a plan to navigate Idaho schools through economic hardships.
Olson told those gathered at the luncheon, which also served as a fundraiser for his campaign, that he has the right experience to serve effectively if he beats Luna in November. He said that during his time in the Boise school system, he has worked to listen to those involved within the educational process and implement intelligent changes within schools. Olson said he plans to continue that practice if elected to the state position and that he will collaborate with individual communities to develop education policy that is good for the entire state.

Olson continued to take jabs at Luna. He was critical of Luna's lack of a plan to weather the financial crisis while preparing students for the workforce of the future. He said that teachers and staffers in his district, one of the largest in the state, comprehend and understand his administration's plans for increasing student achievement. He proposed developing a comprehensive plan to bring Idaho's public schools to the top of all schools achievement-wise. He favored working with superintendents across the state to develop the plan so students in smaller districts, which he classified as 500 or less, receive the same level of education as those in districts with more than 1,000 students.