Luna Calls For Teacher Raises

State schools chief Tom Luna told lawmakers he’s made several changes to his budget proposal: He’s calling for a 1 percent increase in salary-based apportionment to school districts, to allow teachers to get pay raises next year, in addition to $16 million for one-time leadership awards, continuing funding that was provided on a one-time basis this year. For school administrators and classified staff, he’s requesting a 2 percent increase in salary funds, because they won’t be part of the leadership awards. Gov. Butch Otter’s proposed budget didn’t include any of those items/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here .

Other Eye on Boise stories this AM:

• A budgetary musical interlude
• Luna outlines technology proposals
• Luna: ‘We raised the bar’
• Luna: Idaho must start now to implement task force proposals
• Measure would enshrine legislative rules-review in state Constitution
• Judge rules Idaho AG can intervene in same-sex case
• Senators dispute Idaho F&G report on wolf numbers

Question: Hmm. Luna playing nice to teachers? Is it an election year?