[Vision2020] Luna Aide Says Reform Plan Isn’t Bringing New Staffers

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (May 15, 2011) Spokesman-Review.

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Eye on Boise: Luna aide says reform plan isn’t bringing new staffers

BOISE – Although rumors are rife that the Idaho State Department of
Education has added highly paid staffers to implement the new Students
Come First school reform plan, Luci Willits, chief of staff for state
schools Superintendent Tom Luna, says it’s not true.

“We’re doing what we’re asking school districts to do, which is to do
things differently” with existing funding, Willits said. “At this point we
haven’t hired anyone new. All we’ve done is re-purposed positions.” She
added, “Everyone’s job at the department will be changing under Students
Come First.”

Two positions already are changing: Deputy Superintendent Mary Beth
Flachbart will oversee the implementation of the reforms, which include
shifting teacher salary funds to technology investments, starting a
teacher merit-pay bonus program, and phasing in a program to provide one
laptop computer or other computing device for every Idaho high school
student. Flachbart, who oversees federal programs, special education,
Title 1 and school improvement efforts, will continue to be a deputy
superintendent; her salary of $89,315 a year (before furloughs) won’t
change because of the new assignment.

Camille Wells, a program specialist at the department for communication
and governmental affairs, will be promoted to a “coordinator” position in
which she’ll work full time on Students Come First, Willits said. That
will move her up a pay grade; her new salary hasn’t been set, but it will
rise from the current $34,507 a year (before furloughs) to at least
$44,034 a year in the new pay grade.

Willits noted that the reform plan is phased over several years. “Some
things happen now, some in the future,” she said.

Luna’s Department of Education budget for next year will see a 10.5
percent boost in state general funds, but that’s in part because a federal
grant ended to fund the state’s student longitudinal data system and the
state is having to pick up those costs, including six positions. “We had a
3.5 percent cut overall in the department if you look separately from the
longitudinal data system,” Willits said.

That system, to track student achievement, was a requirement of receiving
federal stimulus funds; Idaho was the last state to get one. According to
state budget documents, the number of authorized full-time positions at
the department will rise from 130 this year to 133 next year; three
positions were eliminated due to budget cuts.

Seniors vs. Lawmakers

The Idaho AARP has issued a new report on campaign contributions in Idaho,
concluding that corporations, businesses and political action committees
spent $2.7 million on Idaho’s winning 2010 campaigns for governor,
lieutenant governor and state Legislature; that 35 percent of those
contributions came from outside Idaho; and that nearly 90 percent of
lawmakers got the majority of their campaign funds from those groups.

Idaho AARP State Director Jim Wordelman said the group was disappointed
with the Legislature’s lack of response to AARP members’ concerns this
year, including finding new revenues to address the state budget
shortfall, such as closing business tax loopholes, rather than cutting
programs; and protecting the wishes of dying patients from being
overridden by medical providers.

“The outcomes of this past legislative session left many AARP members
believing that Idaho has a golden rule, and that is, those who have the
gold make the rules,” Wordelman said. “When the most powerful voting group
in Idaho, voters aged 50 and older, feels that their voices and issues are
ignored by state lawmakers, we’ve got an issue of public confidence in the
system.”

The seniors group is calling for requiring Idaho candidates to raise the
majority of their campaign funds from individuals living in their
districts; limiting contributions to and by PACs; and limiting
contributions to state political parties.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to
changeand the Realist adjusts his sails."

 - Unknown