Rating: 0

Bill Summary:

Senate Bill 1045 amends Idaho Code §33-507 to impose new limitations and conditions on the employment of school board trustees’ spouses in public school districts. The bill prohibits such employment in school districts with more than 1,200 students, with limited exceptions. In districts with 1,200 or fewer students, the spouse of a trustee may be hired for a non-administrative position if the position is publicly posted for 60 days (or 15 days if during the school year) and no qualified applicant applies other than the trustee’s spouse. The trustee must abstain from any vote or discussion related to the hire.

In districts with 400 or fewer students, until June 30, 2030, a trustee’s spouse may be hired under a standard process without meeting the public posting and applicant shortage conditions, provided the trustee is not involved in any employment, salary, or evaluation decisions related to the spouse. All such employees must be either at-will (if non-certificated) or under a Category 1 contract (if certificated). Trustees must abstain from votes or actions involving their spouse’s employment terms, except in votes on the general district budget or audit.

Reason for Rating:

S1045 attempts to strike a balance between ethical governance and the practical staffing needs of small, rural school districts. It promotes transparency, accountability, and avoidance of nepotism by requiring trustees to recuse themselves from employment decisions involving their spouses. However, it also introduces new regulations, thresholds, and administrative procedures that affect local school district governance, which may be viewed as regulatory overreach under the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s commitment to limited government and local control. Because the bill addresses both valid ethical concerns and imposes new regulatory structures, it is best rated as neutral.