It's Day 2 of the hearings on the Luna legislation. Once again, the overwhelming majority of people who've signed up to talk are against the plan; IdahoReporter.com reports on Twitter that of the first 109 to sign up, all but 16 oppose the bills.
Tom Taggart, business manager for the Lakeland School District and a representative of Idaho Association of School Business Officials, led off today's testimony. He says the group feels the plan was created in a vacuum, without the participation of education stakeholders. He suggested that the plan can and should be taken apart, with some parts preserved, others altered, and still others eliminated entirely. “We don't feel this is an all-or-nothing situation,” he said. “Slow down and do this right.”
He noted that although members generally support SB 1068 – the Labor Relations and Employee Entitlements bill – they oppose its harsh tone and elimination of the 99 percent funding floor. Idaho ASBO members are strongly opposed to many aspects of SB 1069, the School Reform and Modernization bill, and suggested it be pulled back and reintroduced next session.