Education overhaul is easily Idaho's top 2012 poll issue
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Public schools chief Tom Luna spent the last days of the campaign to preserve his "Students Come First" education overhaul promoting this message: Teachers unions are putting their interests above those of Idaho's schoolchildren.
Meanwhile, foes of Luna's changes also stayed on the offensive as voters streamed into the polls, encouraging them to reject the changes on grounds they were forced on teachers.
On Tuesday, Luna and Mike Lanza, chairman of the "Vote No on Propositions 1,2 and 3, had just hours to wait before learning who would come out on top.
The campaign is among the most expensive in Idaho history, topping out at some $6 million combined.
Luna's changes, passed by the 2011 Legislature, limit union bargaining, promote teacher merit pay and lease laptops for high school students.
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