Idaho state schools chief Tom Luna opened the deliberations of a 39-member task force today that'll help determine how to implement big new school technology investments, even as the Idaho Secretary of State's office issued certificates officially placing three referendums on the November 2012 ballot to overturn the reforms. The final tally, issued Monday, showed each of the three referendum petitions on Luna's "Students Come First" reform bills received more than 74,000 signatures, far more than the required 47,432.

Nevertheless, Luna said today, "We're implementing the law. ... It's the law of the land. We can't have the education system in Idaho in limbo, so our job now is to implement this properly. ... That's why this committee is meeting today." House Education Chairman Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, who serves on the task force, said, "We've got our work ahead of us. ... We'll just move forward as if the referendums are not going to pass."

After a full day of meetings today, including afternoon gatherings of five subcommittees, the task force scheduled to hear Tuesday from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise; you can watch live here. "This is just the beginning," Luna said. "There's meetings every month from here on out." You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.