Pocatello/Chubbuck school board hearing gets heated

The Pocatello/Chubbuck school board held a hearing for public comment following their decision to have the high schools no longer become a school of choice.

Before the board took public comments, they let everyone in attendance know to be respectful and hold their applause or they would put the meeting in recess. They also said if they had to use the gavel to bring order, they would bring the hearing to a recess and wait until order was restored.

A number of parents came to the microphone asking for the board to reconsider their decision.

Many of the people who approached the microphone early received a loud ovation and applause, prompting the board to remind the audience to hold their applause to a minimum to continue the meeting.

A Franklin Middle School student got up to the microphone said they were “disappointed in the decision by the school board” saying “it will force me to take dangerous roads to go to the school now assigned.”

About 20 minutes into the hearing, one parent called out the school board saying that their changes are illegal, reminding the board that this week is school choice week, saying Governor Butch Otter and President Donald Trump both support school choice.

The comment received a loud applause and standing ovation before the board attempted to get order to the hearing.

The school board walked off the stage to jeering from the audience.

A 2 minute recess was called before the board addressed the community saying “we welcome your voice, but we will not sit here and take your abuse.”

More members of the community stood up and asked for the board to reconsider their decision and keep school choice open.

One mother said “You are all selfless for being on the school board, but the decision to get rid of school choice is a district choice, you are not thinking of the students.”

The board will vote this Thursday at their next meeting if Pocatello/Chubbuck high schools will be school of choice.