Shocker: Conservative Idaho Repeals Online Learning, Performance-Pay Measures

[HiPointDem]

A set of sweeping measures looking to drastically change teachers' collective bargaining rights and how students use technology in the classroom were overwhelmingly voted down by Idaho voters Tuesday. The laws were part of Idaho state Superintendent Tom Luna's controversial reform plan, which originated from the state's application for a federal Race to the Top grant...

Proposition 1 would have limited teachers' collective bargaining rights by giving expanded authority to local school boards and would have phased out tenure, forcing teachers to work on one- to two-year contracts. It would also have tied 50 percent of a teacher's evaluations to student academic performance.

Proposition 2 would have established a $38 million performance-based pay system for teachers, based in part on academic-performance metrics like state median assessment scores and growth and success in meeting targets for adequate yearly progress.

Proposition 3, which was repealed by an even larger margin than the other measures, would have been one of the most significant statewide online learning measures passed by voters. Every high school teacher and student would have received a laptop computer, and students would have been required to earn two credits through online or blended learning courses in order to graduate.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/marketplacek12/2012/11/idaho_voters_repeal_online_learning_performance_pay_measures.html

According to EdWeek, the ensuing campaign was fueled by a flood of anonymous out-of-state money laundered through a group called Education Voters of Idaho.

Anonymous, that is, until a lawsuit forced the group to disclose its donation list, which (not surprisingly) “included $200,000 from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and $250,000 from Joe Scott, an heir to Albertsons, a grocery-store chain.” Also backing the measures was ultraconservative Idaho businessman Frank VanderSloot who “put $1.4 million of support behind the propositions.” And yet, despite all the money to ratify corporate “reformers’” education agenda, voters overwhelmingly backed the vetoes.

http://preaprez.wordpress.com/


So Michael Bloomberg is personally funding school referendums in Idaho. Very interesting.

And who's frank vandersloot when he's at home?

Frank L. VanderSloot (born August 14, 1948) is an American entrepreneur, radio network owner, and cattle rancher. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Melaleuca, Inc.,an Idaho Falls, Idaho-headquartered multi-level marketing company that sells nutritional supplements, cleaning supplies, and personal-care products. (Hmm, sounds so much like amway, founded by that other dutch-american family...I wonder if they're related? But this company is making a lot of its money overseas...with the nouveau middle classes of asia...)[1][2]

His other business interests include Riverbend Communications,[3] a group of broadcast radio stations, and commercial cattle and horse ranch operations in Idaho and Utah.[4][5][6]

VanderSloot also serves on the board of directors and executive board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.[7][8]

In 2011, he was listed as the nation’s 92nd largest landowner.[9]

VanderSloot served as a national finance co-chair for both Mitt Romney's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.[10]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_L._VanderSloot

he converted to mormonism...