With the huge shortfall in the state budget for the years 2001 thru
2004, education was heavily affected. Programs were cut, class sizes
increased, and some personnel lost their jobs. Many programs were cut
at our state universities and colleges. Now we must look at ways to
mitigate some of the damage that was done. We do not need to raise taxes
to fund our public schools. As legislators, we just need to make it
a priority.
Education is big business. Sometimes it is said to be the biggest
in the United States. This is true, if one is thinking of education
as an investment to develop our human resources upon which all else
depends. It is not true if one has in mind school revenues as compared
with total tax revenues. Even though approximately 45% of the State
of Utah's budget goes for education, the total revenues devoted to elementary
and secondary schools amount to less than 20 cents out of each dollar
of combined federal, state, and local tax collections.
I have been sitting on the Education Standing Committee and the Higher
Education Appropriations Committee for the last eight session. We have
listened to volumes of testimony and became well acquainted with what
is happening in each school district as well as how other programs are
working in other states.
Often the legislature has not heeded the concerns of experts in the
educational community. As a result, we have had new legislation pushed
through that will be competency based even though the UPASS program
has not been completely implemented. The Office of Education needs to
be complimented on trying to follow the demands of the legislature as
it jumps from one agenda to another.
A tuition tax credit or voucher proposal has been presented to the
legislature. I am concerned about taking desperately needed funds from
public education. Private schools do a great job; but because they are
private, they are not required to give the testing that is required
ofthe public schools. There may be a question of accountability in giving
taxpayers money to private schools. Also as stated by John Durey, noted
educator: “What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child,
that must the community want for all of its children. Any other ideal
for our schools is narrow and unlovely; acted upon, it destroys our
democracy.”
The problem of how to finance education is a matter of major concern,
both because of the cost of education and because of its vital relationship
to progress and security. We know that demands for improvement in public
education are escalating while available financial resources are diminishing.
School district after school district is forced to deal not with improving
instruction, but with cutting costs--cutting to the core of the instructional
process. Universities and colleges are faced with the same problem.
We are losing good professors to other institutions outside of our state.
We must possibly look at new sources of funding.
In Utah, we spend less to educate each child than any other state
in the Union--we are at the bottom. Also, we have the largest class
sizes. But we have a wealth of dedicated teachers as a recent report
issued by the American Legislative Exchange Council shows. Utah ranks
among the top ten in all measures of academic achievement. The report
looked mainly at college entrances tests--ACT and SAT.
How does this lack of funding effect schools? If teachers are being
adequately paid, (as some say) then money must be taken from other programs
to pay the teachers’ salaries. These programs could include reducing
classroom size, updating textbooks and computers, inservice training
for teachers and administrators, providing adequate supplies, hiring
counselors in elementary schools, supplying school nurses where necessary,
working to raise test scores, furnishing adequate administration in
schools—just to mention a few.
Faculties both in public education and higher education are concerned
about what is happening with funding for education. They are concerned
about being adequately paid, but also they are concerned about what
is happening in the classroom. They are having to deal with more social
problems than ever. Along with the dilemma of difficult students, they
are concerned about the cut in services. Higher education is having
problem offering courses that will allow students to receive their degrees
in an efficient and timely manner..
The question can be asked of students in college: Would they like
to become teachers and start for a average salary of $22,000 when they
can find a job in the business community for 25% to 50% more. Also,
Utah finds itself in the same dilemma as many other states-- a teacher
shortage. There are many districts in the state that do not have enough
applicants to fill the positions especially in math, science, technology,
and special education. Substitute teachers are going to have to be used.
The State of Utah must guarantee a strong, effective, and quality
educational system for our children--for their future as well as the
future of our state. I just want education to be treated fairly and
equitably. We must realize that we have hard working teachers in our
state that are producing with limited resources and that we must stop
dreaming up "bandaid" projects to prove a teacher's worth.
A child’s worth is great in my mind, and I have seven beautiful grandchildren
that I hope are afforded the best education that the state can provide.
