Idaho’s State Board of Education has refused to release public comments submitted during the search for Boise State University’s new president, citing personnel confidentiality rules. The decision marks the second denial of a request for the records, which were collected during a limited public comment period earlier this year in Ada County’s largest university.
David Hahn began his role as Boise State president on July 1 after a 15-month search process. The State Board named him as the sole finalist on June 16, triggering a brief window for public input. When Idaho Education News requested copies of the public comments on June 18, State Board Executive Director Jennifer White declined, stating the materials fell under personnel exemptions.
Second Request Also Denied
A second request for the same records submitted on July 2 received the same response on July 8. White maintained that the comments “constitute records relating to the screening, evaluation, and selection of an applicant for employment,” and therefore cannot be disclosed under Idaho’s public records laws.
The refusals occur against the backdrop of a significant shift in how Idaho handles university leadership searches. During the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers passed a law that moved most of the presidential search process behind closed doors. The legislation eliminated the requirement to publicly announce a field of five finalists and now requires only that a sole finalist be made public.
Implications for Boise State and Taxpayers
Boise State serves more than 28,000 students and operates on a budget exceeding $307 million annually, with roughly $131.4 million coming from state general fund tax revenues. The university’s leadership directly affects how those resources are managed and how the institution serves Ada County families and the broader Treasure Valley community.
The search process itself was suspended in October before ultimately concluding with Hahn’s selection. The combination of the legislative changes and the board’s refusal to release public comments has narrowed the transparency available to residents regarding how major decisions about the university’s direction are made.
What Comes Next
There is no indication the State Board intends to release the requested comments. Interested parties seeking information about university governance may contact the State Board of Education directly or attend public board meetings where university matters are discussed. Local officials and concerned citizens can also reach out to their representatives in the Idaho Legislature regarding public records policies affecting higher education.
The decision underscores ongoing tensions between public transparency and personnel privacy in government hiring processes across Idaho agencies and educational institutions.