Education Protests Planned Today

Foes of Idaho’s education reform plan have announced that today will be a day of protest. More the a dozen rallies are planned around Idaho in Twin Falls, Kimberly, Pocatello, Moscow, Post Falls, Blackfoot, Driggs, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Buhl, Cassia, Ada, and Blaine counties.   State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna says  yesterday's passage of the first bill of his education reform plans means that every year, school districts and teachers associations will sit down and begin starting over on negotiations.  He says it also means that local school boards can adapt and change as times change.   Sherri Wood, The president of the state teacher's union, calls the bill an attack on educators.  The biggest piece of Luna's reform package remains stalled in the Senate. It would boost technology in the classroom, require online courses and bump up the minimum teacher pay while also increasing classroom sizes and cutting 770 teaching jobs. Superintendent Luna is working with senators to make some suggested changes. He says a new bill could be introduced as soon as this week in the Senate Education Committee.