Senators are now questioning state schools Supt. Tom Luna on his school reform plan. Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, noted this year's cuts in school funding, which totaled more than $128 million. "Does your plan include restoration of all those?" she asked. Luna responded, "Yes, but it does not do it by raising taxes." Instead, he said, "We are going to take the money that we already have and spend it differently." He said, "Increasing class sizes ... that frees up about $500 million over the next five years, because we have 800 fewer teachers. ... That's how you provide the money to restore the money that's been cut."

Said Luna, "We're not increasing the funding for education with this program. We're taking what we have and spending it differently." LeFavour said she couldn't see how Luna's plan "pencils out." Luna said, "We will spend $68 million less on salaries and benefits next year." Then, class sizes would be boosted again the following year, saving another $40 million. "So we have $108 million a year then to redirect into other areas of education. We spend it on technology, we spend it on raising teacher pay, we spend it on pay for performance. ... We no longer live in a world where we can expect more and more money every year for education."

Sen. John Andreason, R-Boise, said he represents the two largest school districts in the state. He questioned how all districts could benefit, if the number of teachers cut per district varies widely. Luna said, "School districts will lose teachers based on their size, so Meridian, being the largest district, will lose more teachers than a Nampa or a Boise. ... We have some school districts that will not lose any teaching positions."