This week Boise State Public Radio's James Dawson joins the podcast to discuss Idaho's coronavirus responses and the political struggles and peer pressure that have come up along the way.

Plus, Dawson and EdNews reporter Clark Corbin look back at last week's oral arguments from school chief Sherri Ybarra's lawsuit against the Legislature and the State Board of Education.

Idaho Supreme Court justices asked tough questions Friday during oral arguments in the turf war between schools chief Sherri Ybarra, the Legislature and the State Board of Education.

We'll discuss some of the key questions and play a couple of audio clips.

Plus, find out the results of Idaho's historic first all-absentee primary election.

This week, the conversation started to pivot toward what school might look like in Idaho this fall, both at the public school and higher education level. We'll highlight how approaches might vary from district to district.

Plus, find out the latest on school chief Sherri Ybarra's lawsuit as we brace for oral arguments next week.

This week we break down the new budget guidance from Gov. Brad Little that offers a blueprint for cutting next year's school budget by 5 percent, or about $99 million.

We'll look at cuts to technology and freezing teachers on the career ladder salary system.

This week the Idaho State Board of Education revised the criteria schools would need to meet if they hope to reopen during the end of the current academic year. The new criteria aligns with Gov. Brad Little's staged Idaho Rebounds plan. We'll explain what the limits are, and why you shouldn't expect a return to business as usual.

After more than a month in a statewide, stay-home order, Idaho begins its gradual reopening today. We'll discuss how lifting the stay-home order affects local schools' ability to attempt to reopen this year.

Plus, we break down the latest developments in schools chief Sherri Ybarra's lawsuit against the State Board and the Legislature.

Schools chief Sherri Ybarra told education leaders to brace for another round of budget cuts, this time cutting the 2020-21 budget that kicks in July 1. We will explain how big the cuts could be and what to look for.

We focus this week's episode on two major decisions; The State Board of Education's reopening criteria and Gov. Brad Little's decision to extend the statewide stay-home order through the end of the month. We'll break down how the two decisions interest with each other, and how how these debates are quickly turning political.

This week the State Board of Education made the historic decision to close schools through the end of the academic year. But there is a catch. Local school leaders will be able to attempt to re-open if they meet a list of forthcoming criteria and get approval from local public health officials.

Plus, an existential crisis looms over Idaho's vacant college campuses. Co-host Kevin Richert breaks down the uncertainty universities are facing.

School leaders are beginning to ask how the 1 percent budget holdbacks Gov. Brad Little announced last week will affect public schools, given that the cuts will be absorbed during the end of the year. We know the impact will be about $19 million and federal stimulus funds will soon be on the way and could offset that. Plus, the State Board of Education is considering the statewide school closure beyond April 20.