[Vision2020] The Luna laws - a flawed process

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (October 23, 2012) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with thanks to State Rep. Tom Trail.

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The Luna laws - a flawed process
Idaho voters will be faced with voting on three important education issues Nov. 6.
Proposition 1 deals with teachers' rights, Prop. 2 focuses on merit pay for teachers and Prop. 3 moves into the arena of technology in the classroom. While both sides debate the merits of their cause, the process in the development of the Luna Laws merits greater attention to understand the background facing voters.
During his campaign in the fall of 2010 for the position of superintendent of public instruction, Tom Luna repeatedly told the electorate Idaho students had made excellent progress during his first four years as SPI. He reported teachers were doing a good job and that much progress had been made during his four years of leadership. No mention was made of the Luna laws that were dropped like a bomb on the members of the House and Senate education committees that met in joint session early in January 2011. Luna said educational programs, student test scores and other indicators of educational progress were rapidly deteriorating, and the three new Luna proposals were the answer to reverse the tide. This was in contrast to his pronouncements of the 2010 campaign.
One of the major principles in the legislative process to enact new and sometimes controversial educational policy is to work in a consensus mode with the major stakeholders to reach agreement. This was pointed out by Thomas Jefferson and in the private sector by Peter Drucker in his management book, "Staffing for Strength."
None of the major stakeholders had a clue these three laws were going to be proposed in the 2011 legislative session. Richard Westerberg, a member of the State Board of Education, when the new proposals were outlined said, "This is the first time I've ever heard of this proposal." This was an interesting statement since the board is vested by the Idaho Constitution for the full responsibility of K-12 education. Several board members told legislators that this was an "end run."
Karen Echeverria, executive director of the Idaho School Boards Association, noted this was the first time she had heard about the proposal and needed to consult her constituency. The ISBA had no clue the proposals were going to be introduced nor did the Idaho PTA. Idaho's teachers, as represented by the Idaho Teacher's Association, had also been left out in the cold. This was a classic example of policy developed in "secret" by a small group of elected officials and rammed down the throats of Idaho residents.
Hundreds of parents, teachers, students and concerned residents attended several public hearings in the Capitol concerning the Luna laws. The vast majority protested not only against the major principles of the laws, but being excluded in the development of the proposals. The three proposals became law although many key Republicans, including Sen. Dean Cameron, co-chair of the Joint Finance-Appropriation Committee, opposed them. In a House education committee meeting, several legislators noted that if "mobile devices" were used in every classroom, more than 1,000 teachers could be replaced. Luna, who was introducing the legislation in the committee, nodded his head in agreement. Citizen outrage provided the driving force for collecting more than enough petition signatures to place the Luna laws on the November ballot. Current polls show that most Democrats oppose the measures and Republicans are divided.
In conclusion, this is a classic case of how not to develop public policy. If the Luna laws are defeated, then Luna supporters may say that the "sky is falling." However, life will go on, and we will have the opportunity for legislators and the stakeholders to sit down to the table to work out appropriate strategies to provide realistic protection of teacher's rights, teacher compensation and the enhancement of technology for students under the guidance of Idaho teachers. If this strategy is followed, then this participatory decision-making process may indeed help us realize the goal of "Students Come First" and not the special interests and agenda of certain Idaho officials.

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Seeya at the polls, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students.  The college students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)


 
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