Schools chief Sherri Ybarra is making it official, formally launching her re-election bid today.
Ybarra, a Republican from Mountain Home, was elected superintendent of public instruction in 2014.
She first told Idaho Education News in a videotaped interview in December 2015 that she would seek a second term in 2018.
But Ybarra put her campaign on hold this summer, telling Idaho Education News in August, and again in September, that she wasn’t ready to launch a formal campaign.
At the time, Ybarra said she had work to do. She wanted to finish her 2018-19 budget request and Idaho’s plan to comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act before transitioning into campaign mode.
On Wednesday, Ybarra made the news official via campaign press release.
“I’ve been honored and blessed to serve as the state’s superintendent of public instruction,” Ybarra said in the written announcement. “Idaho continues to need strong, experienced leadership to make sure our students are getting the education they deserve.”