BOISE -- Gov. Dirk Kempthorne named 18 people on Thursday to staff the special Safe Schools Task Force he said earlier this year he would put under the leadership of former Boise State University Education Dean Robert Barr.
The panel, which convenes Aug. 18, is charged with determining what assistance the state can give local communities and school districts in establishing the safest environment possible for learning.
"I, for one, don't want to wait until a tragedy happens in Idaho to take some of the actions," Kempthorne told a conference of school superintendents.
The governor also said that with the cooperation of U S West and GTE, a special toll-free telephone hotline will be in operation statewide by the time school opens so that anyone -- parents, students, teachers, school employees -- can report potential problems.
"Often someone is aware of something but doesn't know where to turn or keeps silent because of some fear," Kempthorne said. "This phone line is a place to turn and to alert the proper authorities."
Named to the task force were:
State Schools Superintendent Marilyn Howard.
Post Falls School Superintendent Richard Harris, who is president of the state School Superintendents Association.
State Board of Education member Tom Dillon of Caldwell.
House Education Committee Chairman Fred Tilman of Boise.
House Democratic Floor Leader Wendy Jaquet of Ketchum.
Sen. Bart Davis of Idaho Falls, a member of the Senate Education Committee.
Kuna High School senior Katie Rutan.
Boise High School senior Matt Oppenheimer.
Parma School Board member Melinda Smyser.
Ada County Magistrate John Vehlow.
Hispanic Affairs Commission Director Dan Ramirez.
Bob Taylor, a teacher at Meridian Academy.
Ellen Jaeger of Coeur d'Alene.
Boise attorney Elaine Eberharter-Maki, former deputy attorney general for the Board of Education.
lPastor Bobby Ashley of St. Paul Baptist Church in Boise.
Armand Echert of Buhl, president-elect of the state School Boards Association.
Highland High School Principal Jeff Taylor of Pocatello.
Boise Police Sgt. Don Davis, who supervises the department's school resource officers.
