Tom Luna’s multimillionaire friends are spending big bucks to promote his plan. But full-page ads and radio spots can’t hide the myths, distortions, and lies. Share these facts with your family and friends and ask them to call their state lawmakers today to vote NO on the Luna Plan. Call the Capitol at (800) 626-0471; 322-1000 in Southwest Idaho.
Senate Bill 1108
S1108 is an attack on fair treatment of Idaho teachers. Under Luna’s plan, proven teachers would have no protection against arbitrary firings. Districts would not even have to give a reason for a teacher’s dismissal.
The bill would ban negotiations regarding class sizes, lesson planning, safety, and other issues that help schools work better for everyone.
The Luna plan originally struck the phrase “in good faith” from the bargaining statute. It’s back in the bill now, but there’s little “good faith” in imposing deadlines and mandates on school districts and teachers, limiting teachers’ rights to due-process hearings, and eliminating contracts that help teachers, families, and districts plan adequate classroom staffing
Senate Bill 1110
S1110 is the only part of the Luna plan that educators had any say on.
However, the IEA recommended that it not be introduced until money is available to pay for it—and not at a cost of thousand education jobs! As a part of the overall Luna plan, S1110 is a bad deal for Idaho schools.
In this bill, Superintendent Luna says teacher pay will increase. In S1113, he says pay may decrease if teachers choose to keep class sizes low. What kind of deal is that?
Senate Bill 1113
S1113 is the bill that has drawn the most public opposition, and rightly so. It would impose mandates for online classes and “mobile computing devices,” paying for them via the elimination of a thousand Idaho jobs. The plan would reward an extensive network of campaign contributors and corporations.
Class sizes will grow, and some districts may even lose their accreditation as a result. “Idaho certified” teachers do not need to live in Idaho. The Luna plan could send Idaho teaching jobs out of state.
Idaho educators do not oppose technology; we are opposed to top-down mandates. Some online courses are fine; others are substandard. Parents and students should be allowed to decide for themselves whether and when to use online courses.
