Some Questions for Boise/Meridian (Caldwell, Kuna: car insurance, home, find a job)

[ktuskey]

Hi, my wife is originally from Idaho and we're looking to relocate back there to the Meridian area.

The questions are...

1. What are the job prospects for an elementary school teacher (k - 6)?
2. What are the job prospects for a business analyst/IS Manager for around $50k? (I know about Micron's layoffs)
3. How do folks mostly find jobs in Boise (I ask because it varies by state)-- job boards, recruiters, direct employer, networking?
4. I see the unemployment rate is pretty low, but I suspect there are a lot of low paying jobs that exists. Can you tell me what jobs are most abundant? (generally speaking)

Cost of Living

1. In the Meridian area, what would property taxes be for a 3200sq ft home (roughly)?
2. What does car insurance cost for two typical cars with no problem history/record?


Anything else you can tell me would be great! And no, I'm not from California. ;-)

[fabforever]

Joint School District No. 2 Here are all of the listings currently available for the Meridian School District. You can also find a salary schedule on the left side. Be prepared to have a pay cut as a teacher if you come from a major city. I was making about $27K with a Master's Degree teaching High School. Unfortunately Idaho (much like the rest of the US) pays teachers very poorly.

http://cf.sd01.k12.id.us:1234/emplap.../list_cert.cfm Here are the listing from the Boise School District, you can also find the pay schedule at the main page. You will notice Boise pays the best.

Also be aware that depending on the state you are coming from, your wife will need to get certified in Idaho. Usually she will have to take a few extra classes which she can do while working. But it all depends on the certification she has now, some teacher just transfer their certifications. She will have to contact the Idaho board of education.

I hope this helps, Fab

[fabforever]

I forgot to mention that elementary school teachers have a harder time finding employment in the Boise/Meridian area. This is because Boise State, NNU and other colleges graduate tons of elementary school teachers every year, so there is a lot of competition and many candidates applying for one position. How fast your wife finds employment in Boise/Meridian depends on her qualifications and years of experience. The Boise School district only hires the best teachers; they have tons of applicants so they can really screen their teachers and choose the best cadidate. Your wife will be 'competing' against the most qualified teachers in the state, but it is worth trying to get hired in Boise, not only they have the best salaries, but also the best schools and the best technology. However she might find a position quicker if she wants to look at smaller districts, such as Kuna, Caldwell and etc. These districts are often hurting for teachers since they offer smaller pay and fewer incentives. I know Idaho in general is always hurting for secondary teachers in math and science; many schools use their science teacher to teach math and vice-versa because of the lack of teachers in those subjects. So she would find a job quickly as a secondary (math/science) teacher in any district even as a beginner teacher. If you have any more questions, send me a message. I taught in several school districts and I might be able to point you to the right people. Fab