Alayna Utt

The meeting included the election of officers, a review of FY25 financials, and an i-STEM summary. The i-STEM summary included an executive overview, year-over-year comparison, and demographic data. There was also discussion of STEM AC & WDC integration and updates, as well as public comments.

The meeting included the election of officers, with Jennifer Jackson elected as Chair and Allison Duman as Vice Chair. A fiscal review covered the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, including the General Fund and STEM Dedicated Fund, and a 2026 Spend Plan. An iSTEM presentation highlighted large-scale professional development efforts and their impact on students. Discussions also covered STEM AC & WDC Integration, future governance of the STEM AC Advisory Board, a STEM Action Foundation update, and the STEM School Designation. The board also discussed the Sawtooth Educators Award and next meeting topics.

The meeting included financials, STEM AC program updates, and STEM AC funding recommendations. The STEM AC General Fund FY2026 YTD and STEM Education Fund (Dedicated) FY2026 YTD financials were reviewed. The meeting also covered the EcosySTEM program, Hour of AI, and funding recommendations including $250K for AI educational initiatives, $100k for middle school career readiness, $100k for Out-of-School STEM, and $50K for PBL.

The presentation to the Joint Finance Accounting Committee covered the skills gap in Idaho, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Education officials reported a significant number of unfilled STEM jobs, costing the state in unclaimed labor wages and tax revenue. The Idaho STEM Action Center aims to address this by enhancing student education through hands-on, work-based solutions and providing teachers with necessary tools and skills. The focus is on producing a qualified workforce to attract and retain companies in Idaho.

The board meeting included discussions on the 3rd Quarter Financial Update, STEM Designated Schools, STEM AC / WDC Integration Update, and New Digital Literacy Graduation Requirement. The board reviewed the financial status, explored the impact and future direction of STEM-designated schools, and discussed the integration of STEM AC with WDC, including job descriptions and office moves. There was also an update on the new digital literacy graduation requirement and related trainings for educators.