Counterpoint: Luna's plan step in right direction

After reading the Special to The Press opinion by Sherri Wood on Jan. 14, I felt a need to reply. While I don't deny that the Idaho Education Association has proudly championed collaborative innovation to improve learning in public schools, I find it odd that as a parent of two daughters who have gone through the Coeur d'Alene School District K-12 and who are well adjusted and successful college graduates and the parent of a son who is currently in the Coeur d'Alene School District carrying a 3.85 grade point average, I've never been invited to participate in any collaborative effort. I know, I know, you'll say my children's success is because of the awesome teachers and school system, which is undeniable. However, I'd like to think that having three children who have done or are doing well in the system is in part because of parent involvement. We all know it starts at home. Anyway, that's a topic for another discussion.

I feel that Mr. Luna's plan is a good start to an education system overhaul. I don't agree that it's a choice between students or teachers. That's just the same tired old rhetoric from the IEA. When one doesn't agree with the IEA version of what's best for the education system, one is branded either against students or against teachers. If it's truly a collaborative effort, the IEA would offer to help implement a plan that is in the best interest of the students and the citizens of Idaho. The underlying message seems to be that the IEA thinks this is a bad plan for teachers.

I certainly can see why the IEA is concerned about losing what amounts to job security, (tenure), that's not dependent on performance. I wish I had the luxury of knowing that my job was secure just because of my chosen profession. It would be nice to know that I could show up for work for 10 years or more and not have to be held accountable for keeping a project under budget or failing to bring a project in on time. But alas, if I don't perform, I'm out of a job. Do well at your job, and you should be able to plan for the future.

I disagree with Ms. Wood's position that Mr. Luna's plan substitutes technology or online learning for face to face instruction. There is always room for improvement no matter what and all avenues and methods of teaching should be evaluated. The same applies to any other industry, why not education? I think there are wonderful opportunities to educate our students as well as monitor teacher performance by using the technology that is readily available online. If we increase the amount of technology in the classroom as an instructional tool and as an evaluation tool, it might just free up some time for more individual attention.

I've always thought that teachers work hard for the money they earn. But sometimes one has to look at any situation more closely. It's widely accepted that there are 2,080 works hours in a year on average. $30,000 divided by 2,080 hours works out to about $14.42 per hour. For a college educated individual, that's not much. But let's look at the fact that the teacher's work year isn't actually 2,080 hours. Let's take the approximate summer break time out of the equation. So let me see, 3 months times 4.3 weeks is a total of 12.9 weeks. 13 weeks is close enough, (and I'm not even factoring in winter break or spring break). 13 weeks times 40 hours (the average work week), is 520 hours. 2,080 hours less 520 hours is 1,560 hours. Now, $30,000 divided by 1,560 hours is about $19.23 per hour. Now we're getting somewhere. If the work year for teachers were 2,080 hours long that would amount to $39,998.40 per year! If you add in the pretty sweet bunch of benefits - medical insurance package, holidays, retirement package - then it's really not bad for someone fresh out of college and I think it's equal to or better than any private sector job requiring the same amount of education. In addition, there's always room for advancement.

Most concerning to Ms. Wood is the fact that Mr. Luna's plan was formulated with virtually no input from the dedicated teachers of our state. That may be true, but at least it wasn't formulated with input from any of the teachers who might not be so dedicated as I'm sure anyone would agree do exist.

I agree that education is a team sport. Put me in coach, I'm ready to play! However, I don't think I'll be put in the game. The IEA probably doesn't want anyone on their team who disagrees with their position.

Mr. Luna's plan is new and it's innovative and it's unproven. Why is that a bad thing? Let's give it a try. We as parents, grandparents and citizens deserve a plan that's good for all not just good for one member of the team. And we deserve a plan that will not require the state Legislature to raise our taxes at the state level to pay for the system we have now. I would rather evaluate and vote for or against a supplemental levy on its local merits than have the state mandate those taxes. There most certainly is a budget crunch in the state and that's precisely why this plan is being proposed.

Thanks to Ms. Wood for inviting me to voice my concerns. I apologize if it isn't exactly what she had in mind. And by the way, I think I'll contact my state legislator and let him know what I think.

Chris Shelton is a Coeur d'Alene resident and project manager for a local general contractor.