Gov. Otter Not Discouraged Over Election Results
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter says he's not discouraged by Tuesday's defeat of Idaho's education overhaul because it's how the system works. Two-thirds of voters panned Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna's plan to spend $180 million to lease laptops for high school students and create online-class mandates. Limits on teachers' collective bargaining rights and merit pay for teachers also flamed out. Luna didn't return multiple requests for comment Wednesday. In a statement, he didn't acknowledge the defeat, but said he understands Idahoans have "expressed concerns." The head of Idaho's public teachers union says voters bluntly rejected Luna's contention union efforts to overturn the laws were solely to preserve their power over public schools. Idaho Education Association president Penni Cyr says her group could work with Luna on making some changes to education, if he cooperates.