The "third pillar" of his school reform plan that state schools Supt. Tom Luna is describing, "transparent accountability," would impose strict new limits on school district bargaining with local teachers' unions. Luna said he wants to limit all collective bargaining agreements so they can't extend beyond the end of the state fiscal year. Local teacher unions would "have to come to the table every year to negotiate a new master agreement," he said. He'd also limit collective bargaining to salaries and benefits - not length of school day or any other issues.
 
In addition, his "third pillar" includes requiring parent input to be considered in all teacher evaluations; requiring school districts to post their budgets online; and all district salary negotiations would be required to occur in open public meetings. "Folks salaries and benefits make up 80 percent of our public school budget. ... They have the right to observe the process." All district master agreements with local teacher unions also would be required to be posted online. "The public should have easy access to those documents," he said.

Luna also wants to give students flexibility to take online course without permission from schools or districts. And he wants changes in purchasing practices and the state funding formula, to require funding to follow the student and eliminate protection districts now have from big swings. He also said he'd authorize severance payments to teachers who are laid off because the student population suddenly drops.

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