Coeur d'Alene Education Association

Our friends in Post Falls said it best : A message from our executive council to all unionized educators and our allies:

You, like us, may have received items in the mail urging you to drop your union membership.

When out-of-state groups start taking shots at our union, our first reaction isn’t outrage — it’s a smirk. If they’re spending that much time and money on us, we must be doing something right.

The Freedom Foundation out of Olympia, WA, has been busy — mailing out glossy fliers, pressuring many districts around the state to release any membership information they have, and publishing bogus reports about union spending based on half truths and a lack of understanding of public education.

Why all the fuss? Easy. They’re scared. Not of chaos, but of unity. They know our union is the loudest, strongest voice for Idaho’s public schools.

So let them waste their postage. We’ll keep doing what we do best: standing up for educators and students, together.

Our very own, Moira DuCoeur is speaking at the Save Our Schools town hall in Post Falls today. Thank you Moira for your fierce advocacy of public education!

Last night, more than 200 Idahoans gathered in Coeur d’Alene for a Save Our Schools Town Hall to discuss the new Parental Choice Tax Credit program, signed into law in February.

This $50 million program shifts state funds—up to $5,000 per student (or $7,500 for students with special needs)—to cover private school and homeschool expenses.

👩‍🏫 Local educators like Michelle Lippert, Jamie Esler, and Jeff Bengtson raised concerns:
• Public schools are required to track attendance, test students, and account for every tax dollar. Private and homeschool programs are not held to the same accountability.
• Over 90% of Idaho students attend public schools, and they are the backbone of our communities.
• Using taxpayer money for private education could drain resources from the very schools most families rely on.

Community voices were clear: Idahoans value public schools, transparency, and fairness.

💬 As one panelist said: “We fight this by sharing factual information about how this hurts students in our public schools.”

👉 Want to learn more or get involved? Upcoming Save Our Schools events:
• Sandpoint: Tonight, 6:30–8 p.m., Ponderay Event Center
• Priest River: Saturday, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., West Bonner Library
• Post Falls: Saturday, 4–5:30 p.m., Post Falls High School

Let’s stand together for Idaho’s students and the future of public education. 🍎

🇺🇸✊ This Labor Day, we celebrate the power of unions — the backbone of fair wages, safe workplaces, and workers' rights in the U.S. 💪

Special shoutout to education unions, who have tirelessly fought for better pay, smaller class sizes, safer schools, and the respect educators deserve. 📚🍎 Because of their efforts, millions of students have access to a stronger, more equitable public education.

Unions don’t just protect workers — they uplift entire communities. Let’s honor that legacy today and every day. 💼📖

A wonderful opportunity for CDA families!

📣 Reminder for Building Reps
We have our back to school meeting on Tuesday, August 19 at 9:00 AM at Lakes Middle School.

📝 Agenda highlights: start-of-year updates, contract Q&A, and building check-ins.
📍 Location: Lakes Middle School
🕘 Please arrive a few minutes early to sign in.

Congratulations to our very own Nurse Amy Bell 🎉

Coeur d’Alene Public Schools is proud to announce that Nurse Amy Bell has been recognized as the School Nurse Organization of Idaho’s 2025 Idaho School Nurse of the Year. Coeur d’Alene Public Schools is so proud of the work she does and the impact she has on students at Fernan STEM Academy and Sorensen Magnet School of Arts and Humanities. Thank you for your 18 years of service to students in our district!

In addition to the state recognition, she also gets to travel to Austin, Texas in June for the National School Nurses Conference and will be recognized at that event as well learning and connecting with other school nurses and leaders from across the United States.

Congratulations Amy!

2025 Idaho School Nurse of the Year - Amy Bell
https://www.cdaschools.org/article/2048313

Fernan STEM Academy PTA Fernan STEM Academy Sorensen PTO

‼️Super easy to call and let it be known to veto HB93.

Please call the governors office 208-334-2100. The recording will ask if you are calling about HB93, the school voucher bill. Press 1 (yes). When it asks if you want Gov Little to sign or veto, select veto (option 2). It takes less than 30 seconds. Pass along to anyone you know in Idaho. Thank you!

Lobby Days 2025. Here supporting our students and public education.

Such an incredible experience for our Atlas Elementary student.

Hope to see you!!

IEA Children's Fund Night at Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery 🥘 💙

The IEA Children’s Fund will receive 20% of the pre-tax sales receipts for all food and drinks sold at Bardenay Restaurant (Coeur d'Alene, ID location) on Monday, January 20 from 5-9pm.

💚 Dine in or carry out to support Idaho children in need!

📍 Bardenay - CDA
1710 W Riverstone Drive, Coeur d’Alene 83814
bardenay.com