School Superintendent Luna Outlines Education Plan

Public schools chief Tom Luna outlined an aggressive plan for education reform, calling for more technology in the classroom and a pay plan for teachers based on merit, not seniority.

Luna detailed his proposal yesterday for Idaho lawmakers on the House and Senate education committees, saying it may be difficult for "the adults" in public education but will benefit students. Among the highlights of Luna's plan: All ninth-grade students will be given laptops and be required to take two online courses. Idaho would implement a plan to pay teachers based on their performance, which will include student achievement, and eliminate tenure for new teachers instead offering them two-year rolling contracts. Teachers would be able to receive bonuses for taking on hard-to-fill and leadership positions. Teachers' collective bargaining agreements with school districts will expire at the end of each fiscal year and will be limited to salaries and benefits.  AND Idaho colleges and universities would be allowed to operate charter schools.