Bloomberg, Scott contributed to school reform group

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Albertson’s heir Joe Scott were the two largest donors to a political group supporting Idaho’s education reform ballot propositions. Scott and Bloomberg gave a combined $450,000 to Education Voters for Idaho, a nonprofit that initially refused to disclose its donors before an Idaho District Judge ruled Oct. 29 the group needed to file sunshine reports with the Secretary of State.

Those reports, filed Oct. 31, show Scott, the grandson of Albertson’s founder Joe Albertson and chairman of the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, gave $250,000 to EVI, and Bloomberg, also the founder and owner of the Bloomberg financial information company, gave $200,000. Those gifts, along with more than $130,000 in gifts from other companies and individuals, came in September to EVI.

EVI gave $200,000 to a political action committee, Parents for Education Reform, to run television commercials supporting Idaho’s Propositions 1, 2 and 3, ballot measures on three 2011 education laws. The three laws deal with labor negotiations between teachers and schools, merit pay bonuses for teachers, and laptop and technology programs in high schools.

Several Idaho companies and business leaders also contributed to EVI. Hagadone Hospitality Co. of Coeur d’Alene, which owns the Coeur d’Alene Resort, gave $15,000, and Clear Springs Foods of Buhl, Intermountain Gas Co., M3 Eagle and the Idaho Forest Group each gave $10,000. The J.R. Simplot Co., U.S. Ecology, Premier Technology, Bardenay owner Kevin Settles and Idaho Timber Co. founder Larry Williams also contributed at least $2,000 to the group.

In a letter to the Secretary of State’s office accompanying the donation lists, EVI founders John Foster and Debbie Field said they’re proud of their donors and their support of education reform.

The education ballot measures have spurred millions in spending both for and against, with large contributions coming from the National Education Association in opposition and Idaho Falls’ Melaleuca in support.