Judge Rules Against Idaho District on Teacher Furloughs

NAMPA, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho judge has ruled the Nampa School District illegally asked teachers to agree to take furlough days during the 2012-13 school year to help the district deal with budget shortfalls. The Nampa Education Association filed a lawsuit against the district arguing the union, not individual teachers, is the legal negotiating agent between educators and the district. District Judge Molly J. Huskey ruled in favor of the NEA on Monday and said the furlough agreements were void. The Nampa Education Association did not ask for any relief in the lawsuit. However, the union could ask the district to pay teachers for those furloughed days. The district argued the contracts were voluntary. In April, the district said it likely faced a $5.1 million budget shortfall at the end of the 2013-14 school year.