Teachers in the West Ada School District who conduct union business during work hours will have to pay back the district for that time starting July 1, when a new state law takes effect restricting taxpayer-funded support for union activities.
The West Ada Board of Trustees approved a revised agreement with the local teachers union Tuesday night that allows the district to bill the union for any union-related work performed during contracted hours. The change brings the district into compliance with House Bill 516, which the Idaho Legislature passed earlier this year.
What the Law Requires
House Bill 516 prohibits school districts from using taxpayer dollars to support union operations. The law bars districts from deducting union fees from employee paychecks, distributing union communications, or compensating teachers for time spent on union activities.
Renee Senander, West Ada’s human resources director, told trustees the modified agreement ensures the district operates within the legal requirements once the law goes into effect.
Changes to Union Access in West Ada
Beyond tracking billable hours, the revised agreement makes several other adjustments. Previously, West Ada Education Association members could use school property for union business at any time, provided they did not disrupt operations. That section now includes language requiring compliance with state law.
The agreement also removes a provision that allowed union members to post information on teacher bulletin boards in school buildings.
How Other Districts Are Responding
The Vallivue School District board also approved a renegotiated union agreement Tuesday. That contract includes a general provision permitting union use of school property “unless otherwise prohibited by state law,” according to Director of Finance Dalelyn Allen.
Allen explained to trustees that when negotiations began, the interpretation of the new law remained unclear, so the district added flexible language to ensure future compliance once guidance became available.
Several Idaho school districts are still working through contract revisions with their local unions. The Idaho Falls School District plans to continue negotiations Friday, according to Jess Watrous, president of the Idaho Falls Education Association.
Questions About Social Media and Transparency
The law has prompted questions about how unions will document whether contract hours were used for communications, including posts on social media platforms.
A post on the Idaho Falls association’s page in April carried a disclaimer stating no contract hours were used to create the content. Watrous said the union has included such disclaimers for several years, but may use them more frequently to demonstrate compliance with the new restrictions.
“Having the disclaimers on there is probably going to be our safest bet,” Watrous said.
Statewide Union Guidance
The Idaho Education Association has provided compliance guidance to local union leaders and members but declined to share details publicly. Spokesperson Mike Journee said the advice was intended only for affiliates and members.
District-union negotiations take place annually to set teacher contracts, with most discussions centered on salaries and benefits. This year, however, association rights have become a central focus as districts adjust to the new legal landscape.
What Comes Next
West Ada and Vallivue have finalized their revised agreements ahead of the July 1 effective date. Other Idaho school districts, including Idaho Falls, continue working with their local unions to bring contracts into compliance before the law takes effect. Parents and taxpayers in affected districts can monitor contract changes through public board meetings, which are open to the public.