Even in the emotional debate over Propositions 1, 2 and 3, a few areas of consensus emerged.

Among them:

• Technology needs to be a key component in the classroom of the future.

• If classroom technology is to reach its full potential, teachers need adequate training.

A $5-million grant, announced this week, addresses both areas.

The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation is putting the money into learning centers at Northwest Nazarene University and the University of Idaho. The goal will be to teach methods of “blended learning,” combining traditional teaching methods with technology.

This is the key. This isn’t about using technology to replace teachers — a recurring and overstated argument from this fall’s education debate. It’s about giving students the best of both: up-to-date technology and a well-trained teacher. What’s not to like?

And the most encouraging part: According to an Albertson Foundation news release, the on-campus training centers will launch next spring.

In the campaign for Propositions 1, 2 and 3, proponents suggested Idaho education would stagnate if voters rejected the laws. That, too, may prove to be overstated. This grant represents an early, incremental step forward.

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