Bloglander

Opponents of the controversial education reforms reducing teacher bargaining rights, introducing merit pay and paying for laptops over teachers, introduced this year by Idaho schools superintendent Tom Luna, say they are well on the way to reversing the measures.

"We are just shy of 30,000 [signatures] on each of the three petitions," writes Mike Lanza in a press release. Lanza is the chairman of Idahoans for Responsible Education Reform, the group that sprang up in opposition just hours after Luna's proposals were signed into law by Gov. Butch Otter last month.

Idahoans for Responsible Education Reform is backing referendum measures to repeal all three of Luna's school reforms. They need fewer than 48,000 signatures from registered Idaho voters for each petition to get on the ballot.

Lanza says the group has a goal of 60,000 for each petition in order to be sure that they have enough valid signatures, and that they have gathered at least 30,000 for each petition so far.

The group has until June 6 to present the signatures to the Secretary of State but is hoping to end the signature drive before the end of May, Lanza says.

Petitions can be downloaded at rejectthelunalaws.com.