UPDATE - Meetings planned to discuss Luna education plan

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Mountain Home School District officials will hold meetings over the next two weeks to discuss the state's proposed education budget.

A meeting specifically for local teachers and school district employees begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the junior high school with a public hearing planned for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in the high school gym.

Senator Tim Corder approached the school district to hold the meetings shortly after the district's board of trustees sent a letter to the state legislature and department of education condemning the proposed budget outlined by Idaho Superintendent of Education Tom Luna.

Meanwhile, city officials planned to submit similar testimony to state leaders to address the economic impact and other negative factors these budget cuts would cause locally. The city's actual response remains under discussion.

According to the funding formula Luna proposed in the education budget, the district would lose nine teachers, the school board said in its written response. In addition, the district expects to lose another nine teachers next year -- a total staff reduction of 18 teachers -- due to a mission drawdown at Mountain Home Air Force Base. Funding cutbacks in Luna's plan could also cost the district up to 30 non-teaching positions.

If this education budget gets approved, Luna's plan would cut funding to the Mountain Home School District by more than $1 million over the next two years -- most of it this coming year. This would, in essence, wipe out the gains from the district's emergency supplemental levy passed by the voters last year to help maintain local programs.

In its letter, the school board described Luna's plan as "devastating" to the district's finances and a "budget nightmare."

School Board Chairman Jim Alexander recognized the state's current financial difficulties, noting that "we've made cuts in the past, but they were all designed to be temporary."

However, nothing in Luna's plan is temporary, Alexander said.

"This is permanent. If this goes forward and it doesn't work, there's no going back," he added.

Alexander classified this major, fundamental shift in the state's education structure disastrous at this time, adding that the district's letter was necessary "because stern words need to be said."

The board chairman considers Luna's plan like "jumping off a cliff."

The Boise School District also sharply criticized Luna's plan on similar grounds.

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I am a Senior at Mountain Home High. I couldn't disagree more with Luna's plan. I have taken four online classes through IDLA (Idaho Digital Learning Academy) and I can say firsthand, there is nothing more valuable than face to face communication and interaction with your instructor/teacher. I have discussed with my own classmates as well as underclassmen. No one, let me repeat, not a single student is in favor of this plan. We value our teachers and the substantial impact they make in our educational lives. Allowing Luna's plan to take affect will cut not only teachers but clubs, extra-curricular activities. Students are despondent enough about the planning to abolish our block schedule. Cutting athletics and other activities will unquestionably also cut the students dreams in half. For some students, scholarships are their only opportunity of going to college. Not to mention the incredibly positive impact extra-curricular activities play in youths lives. Although this plan will not affect me, as I am graduating this year, I will not stand idly by and watch our educational system go to ruins. I have siblings who will have to pay the consequences of this plan should it pass. Luna has awoken a sleeping giant. The students voices will rise up. As well as the adults in our community. Listen to us. Please.

-- Posted by Bay River on Thu, Feb 10, 2011, at 12:21 PM
Has the school board stated that, should this pass, athletics and extra-curricular activities will be removed?

-- Posted by CuriousParents on Thu, Feb 10, 2011, at 1:05 PM
Online courses aren't for everyone. If you're not a disciplined "A" student - prepare to be overwhelmed, and don't be surprised if you don't grade out at the level you're used to.

-- Posted by VicVega on Thu, Feb 10, 2011, at 2:42 PM
Mr Luna plan is ridiclous. The students need the face to face time with the teachers. The online classes might work for a week or a month but its inevitable the students will mess up or fail out

-- Posted by hcod on Sat, Feb 12, 2011, at 2:43 PM
Bay River:

You and your friends should probably open your eyes to the fact that you all need to change how you learn. If you plan to attend college, you will not always have a teacher in the room with you to hold your hand. You need to be responsible for your own path and choices in life.

It is always interesting to see the views of those who do not pay taxes. You see, people are unemployed and are being FORCED to take pay cuts to hold on to the jobs they have yet taxes and expenses are going up but home values are going down. The largest investment an adult will make in their life is a home.

As far as sports, etc. go----school is about education (reading, math, history, science, etc.). Sports programs, etc. are the "fluff." Read the laws children and see what you are "entitled" to by law as opposed to what you think you should get.

While the students voices may yet again rise up...SO SHALL THOSE THAT FOOT THE BILL (WE THE TAXPAYERS). I would caution you students on what you choose to believe. Look how that levy that passed worked out. Did that solve anything? NOPE!!!!

-- Posted by OpinionMissy on Sun, Feb 13, 2011, at 9:23 AM
OpinionMissy you are soo out of touch with reality...what taxes are you talking about??? I'm a tax payer and been one for years and I don't have a issue paying a little more a year for "quality education for our children"...

Teachers are the "foundation" of the shaping of young minds and hearts...yes, it does take an entire community to shape a person. Parents, relatives, community leaders, coaches, and most importantly TEACHERS...I thank god that I had some outstanding teachers who were mentors and role models in my life as well as countless others who had their lives enriched by teachers...your logic is very much flawed!

You can't tell me that you didn't have a college professor who didn't influence and shaped your development into a young adult...besides, in high school it's these same teachers who prepare our children to take the next step in their educational journey...who better then they, who are college graduates and know what to expect from college...get real please!

Enough already with the levy, and the board of trustees, and the school administration...lay blame where it needs to be, with those we elected to serve us in the state house....it's about POLICTICS!!!

Not everything in this world has a price associated with it...you can't put a price on a quality education...it's "priceless"...when you start putting dollar signs ahead of the future of our children, your priorities are mixed up! And about that Levy....thank god for it, because without it, god knows where we would be.

A community should pride in it's schools...just look around Mtn Home and see the facilities that our children are exposed to...it's SHAMEFUL and it's negative, teacher bashing altra tea baggers like you who are to blame....you people wouldn't pay for anything and let this community fall apart!

I applaud the Mtn Home Board of Trustees for having courage and taking a stand against Mr. Luna's plan that is anti-education...and I hope the City Counsel takes a stand. There are tens of thousands across the state who are telling Mr. Luna, Mr. Otter, and our legislature, enough is enough, we will NOT jeapordize the future of our children any more, just to save a couple of bucks.....

Mr. Otter and his croonies have been exposed to who they really are...far, far right wing conservatives bend on slashing and burning the entire state government of everything and anything...they are anti anything that cost money and pro everything that is connected with big business...it's shameful and wrong!

For those who are interested in taking a stand and saying enough is enough...that we the people of our great state will dictate as to the direction of where we want public education in Idaho to look like..go to idahoparentsandteacher.com and let your voices be heard in the state house....working together we have a voice and can make a difference.

For you OpinionMissy, I'll be praying for you!

-- Posted by DUMBFOUNDED IN IDAHO on Mon, Feb 14, 2011, at 1:44 AM
For those of you who have had enough of the slashing and burning of our state public education, write to our local state elected officials...Senator Time Corder, or Rep Pete Nielson or go to idahoparentsandteachers.com and let your voices be heard...better yet, attend the scheduled meeting on 23 Feb at 6;30 at the high school gym...there is power in numbers...let's hope the roof doesn't cave in, because of budget cuts!!!

-- Posted by DUMBFOUNDED IN IDAHO on Mon, Feb 14, 2011, at 1:48 AM
Will you be carrying torches as well?

-- Posted by CuriousParents on Mon, Feb 14, 2011, at 9:52 AM
Dumb:

You sound a lot like bond supporter when they attempted to jam a new building down our throats based on lies and basic CRAP!

I place blame where it should be---in the hands of those who spend the money...RIGHT HERE IN MH!

So, I am out of touch huh? We will see.

-- Posted by OpinionMissy on Mon, Feb 14, 2011, at 7:37 PM
Dumb:

Please do not pray for me. I do not need it. I hope that more people with smarts, unlike you, have the final say in this. You were ignorant during the building they tried to stick us with, you were ignorant during the levy and you are ignorant now. At least you are predictable.

At some point, higher taxes will NOT fix the problem. We are now beyond that point. Just wait till you get your tax bill...then you can speak as if you know what you are talking about.

There should be a price limit placed on education. Have you seen all of the empty homes? How about the people who line up for food on AL at the church? How about all of the people in this community who have to decide on food v. electric/gas to heat their homes.

You are darn right that a limit needs to be placed on this crap. Sky is the limit spending needs to come to an end.

-- Posted by OpinionMissy on Mon, Feb 14, 2011, at 7:46 PM
Bay River... you are going to have a rude awakening when you get to college. BSU has online classes, no face time with a professor, they post the assignment to the digital board and you complete it. If you have questions you email them. As for professor face time, good luck, you are competing with thousands of other students and you wont get more than a few minutes, until you get into your true major. Lunas plan is more along the lines of college, which makes sense, at the HS level you should be getting ready for life. Yes, the clubs and sports help and are fun, but let me tell you after HS they really dont do crap for you. Not one employer I have come across cared one bit if I played iron man badminton or was a part of FFA, they cared if I could do the job and make them money. I agree, the laptop thing will be a hill to get over, and I dont have any good advice on it.

-- Posted by scoutin on Tue, Feb 15, 2011, at 2:34 AM
Well said, Scoutin!

If you do not have students at BSU, this is exactly the way it is when the students begin their Freshmen year. It does take some getting used to, but this is how it is done, so they better learn quick. Learning to navigate things one their own, while in HS, would be a huge plus to entering college life.

-- Posted by CuriousParents on Tue, Feb 15, 2011, at 7:46 AM
Scoutin' is correct, a large number of college classes are taken online. This is true at both BSU and CWI. There is little to no interaction with a teacher. The students who are disiplined and motivated do just fine in these classes. Those who fail to prioritize their time and lack the will to complete these classes will fail. There is no teacher to push these students through the system as we see so often in the high schools.

-- Posted by jtrotter on Tue, Feb 15, 2011, at 10:22 AM

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