Education budget would see a 5 percent increase

Idaho public schools chief Tom Luna says money the governor hoped to funnel toward an education reserve fund should instead be used to offset a $19 million reduction in salaries in 2013, reports the Associated Press.

The state is moving the money from salaries to help pay for classroom technology and teacher pay-for-performance as part of Luna's "Students Come First" education changes. The shifting of salary money was among the most debated pieces of Luna's changes, which go before voters in November.

Luna told lawmakers how he wants to offset the salary reduction during the fiscal year that starts July 1.

While Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter wanted to shift $29 million into a rainy day account for public education, Luna says it's more important to use that funding to offset the loss to salaries.

Luna presented his 2013 budget proposal this morning to the Idaho Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriation Committee. He proposed increasing state funding for the state's public schools by nearly 5 percent while fully funding teachers' salaries and the classroom technology and pay-for-performance components of the comprehensive education reforms approved during last year's legislative session.

Here are the highlights of Luna's proposed public schools budget:

4.7 percent general fund increase for Idaho's public schools, which is in line with Governor Otter's budget recommendation

$4 million to fund growth in student enrollment

$19.4 million, or 2.38 percent, increase in state funding for teacher and administrator salaries to offset the adjustment that was scheduled for FY2013

$38.8 million in pay-for-performance bonuses for Idaho teachers

$9 million in advanced classroom technology for all grades

$2.5 million to begin implementing the one-to-one initiative in high schools by providing a laptop to every high school teacher and principal. Teachers would receive the equipment in the fall.

$4 million for professional development to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom