CEOs urge governors to support education

Micron, Cisco chiefs address NGA, stress competitive edge

The leaders of Micron Technology and Cisco Systems urged the nation´s
governors Sunday to make sure education remains a top priority in their
states — or risk falling behind the rest of the world.

Wayne Hoffman
The Idaho Statesman

Micron CEO Steve Appleton and Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers
spoke to the state leaders during the second day of the National
Governors Association meeting in Boise.

“The cost of labor is not as big an issue for us,” Appleton said.

Education, however, is big.

“We do have the caliber of people we need,” Appleton said. “The
concern that a lot of us as leaders have is the refilling, if you will, of
that ´glass´ of educated talent.”

Boise-based Micron, the darling of Idaho´s high-tech industry, is the
state´s largest employer with more than 10,000 workers. It is one of
the world´s largest manufacturers of DRAM memory, used in
computers.

Cisco Systems, based in San Jose, Calif., is a world leader in
computer networking equipment.

“Our university systems are the best in the world,” the fast-talking
Chambers said in his keynote speech as he paced behind a podium
under the intense glare of television lights. “Our K-12, while it is
improved, is not compatible.

“We´ve got to realize, if we don´t move fast, we won´t leave behind 5
percent of the population. We´ll leave behind 30 to 40 percent,”
Chambers said.

But education has shared in states´ economic hardships, and states
have found it tough to spare any portion of spending — including
education — from the axe.

Riding on a healthy $300 million surplus, Idaho lawmakers planned to
pump $933 million to public schools during the last fiscal year.

But when the economic bubble burst and the surplus vanished, Gov.
Dirk Kempthorne and the Republican-controlled Legislature scaled
the spending plan back to $909 million.

For the current fiscal year, the Legislature appropriated $920 million,
accounting for 47 percent of the state´s general fund budget.

Kempthorne and legislative leaders say the spending blueprint still shows a commitment to
education, while critics have complained about the $23 million schools didn´t get and could
use to improve the state´s schools.

The governor also has emphasized programs such as Idaho´s reading and math initiatives as
evidence of his commitment toward improving education.

Appleton, a contributor toward Kempthorne´s gubernatorial campaign in 1998 whose
company has ponied up more than $3,800 so far for the governor´s re-election, trod lightly on
the money subject of school funding.

“Money is being provided to our children across this country, and we can feel good about
that,” said Appleton, who gave a relatively brief presentation to the governors. “We can
debate whether its enough or not but we are making progress.”

Chambers encouraged more spending for schools and more money for teachers.

Kempthorne asked Chambers what role states´ tax policies play in attracting companies.

Chambers, in his comments to the governors, emphasized the need for broadband (high
speed) Internet service to reach the nation´s homes and businesses.

Kempthorne is proud of a tax credit he got the Legislature to approve last year that gives a
break to companies bringing broadband technology to Idaho.

Companies get an even bigger tax credit when the technology is brought to economically
stressed Idaho counties.

Chambers maintained companies will go where the best educated work force is located.

He added: “Tax policy is one way to send that message strongly.”

Kempthorne said the comments from Appleton and Chambers were “an affirmation” that Idaho
is doing the right things.

He points to a $60 million privately funded project that´s connecting rural towns throughout
southern Idaho, in part because of his tax credit.

“You have a pro-business attitude,” Kempthorne said. “That´s what (companies) are looking
for.”

To offer story ideas or comments, contact Wayne Hoffman
[email protected] or 377-6416

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