Goedde, Ed Panel OKs Luna 3

Update: The Senate Education Committee has voted 6-3 in favor of SB 1184, the school reform bill, which now goes to the full Senate with a recommendation that it “do pass.” Those voting in favor of the bill were Sens. Toryanski, Winder, Fulcher, Mortimer, Goedde, and Pearce. Those voting against were Sens. Andreason, McWilliam, and LeFavour.

The superintendents and school board chairmen of the state’s two largest school districts, Boise and Meridian, have sent a letter to their local lawmakers urging them to oppose SB 1184, because they estimate the districts will lose millions of dollars in state funding under the bill. “SB 1184 would have an ongoing, cumulative negative impact on the general fund budgets of the Meridian and Boise districts,” the letter says/ Betsy Russell , Eye On Boise. More here .

• Schools boards: ‘An unprecedented move, and one we cannot support’
• Brown says districts will be online ‘gatekeepers’, but bill says otherwise
• ‘Invest in new programs by seeking efficiencies in budgets’
• ‘Difficult decision to reallocate resources’
• Otter aide: ‘Students must be prepared for life in online world’
• Meridian supt on Luna bill: ‘Like being asked to cut arm or leg’
• Measure to limit specialty license plates clears Senate
• Nonini on tribal cigtax bill: ‘No news is good news’
• ‘Right to Farm’ law expansion clears committee
• Hart’s wolf bill sent off for fixes
• Crapo: Fiscal crisis looms due to federal debt

Question: On its Twitter account, the Idaho Education Association comments: “First two stakeholder groups have poked a gaping hole in (3rd Tom Luna education reform bill). Will committee members pass it anyway? I tweeted: “Of course.” Does anyone disagree?