Idahoans for Responsible Education Reform, the group backing referendum measures on all three major school reform bills that passed this year, has announced it's nearly halfway to its goal of collecting 60,000 signatures on each of the three petitions. The required number is just under 48,000, but Mike Lanza, group chairman, said the 60,000 goal will allow a "cushion" to account for any signatures that can't be verified.

"We are just shy of 30,000 of each of the three petitions," Lanza said. Click below for the group's full news release.

News from Idahoans for Responsible Education Reform
For immediate release--May 10, 2011
Subject: Luna Laws Referenda Effort Halfway to Reaching Petition Goal
Contact: Mike Lanza, 433-8652
 
Organizers of the drive to put the three harmful education laws to a citizen vote next year announced today that they are nearly halfway to the goal of collecting 60,000 signatures on each of three petitions.
 
"We are just shy of 30,000 on each of the three petitions," said Mike Lanza, chair of Idahoans for Responsible Education Reform. Organizers actually only need about 48,000 on each of the three petitions, but the 60,000 goal allows a "cushion" for signatures that cannot be verified.
 
"We are on track to make the goal of getting enough signatures," Lanza said. "However, it's important that people keep collecting signatures and volunteering at events. If nothing else, people can download the three petitions and instructions at rejectthelunalaws.com and simply circulate them among friends, family and colleagues, at work or during weekend activities."

Organizers aim to have the signatures submitted to county clerks by the end of May in order to have them all verified in time to turn them into the Secretary of State's office by June 6. However, Lanza said that organizers are working to get as many petitions as possible to county clerks offices well before the end of the month.

"County clerk offices are already busy this month with the May 17 school board and school levy elections happening in many districts," Lanza said. "They're working very hard, and we want to be sure they have plenty of time to verify the referendum signatures well ahead of our deadline."

 
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