Education Issues At Legislature

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

LAKETOWN, Utah.  November 21, 2017, Terry Shoemaker, Director of Association of State Superintendents,  noted that Pam Perlich, statewide demographer, said that Utah is the fastest growing population in nation. Because of that, Utah’s population is more urban than rural.

   

The rural areas need the same attention as urban areas.  But often there are different issues.  The urban areas have more in common with other cities in the nation.  The core urban area from Ogden to Provo continues to grow.  Utah County is exploding their school districts are expanding.  Urban sprawl and changing demographics create different problems than rural areas.  Some schools in Salt Lake have students speaking ten languages. 

The demographics are changing.  Fertility in the nation is on a decline.  In Utah, it is also on decline, but the fertility rate is still higher than other states, with that is a decline in Utah’s school age population.  However, the college population is expected to increase.  For Rich County which has 494 school attending students this year, Shoemaker said that by 2065 this county is going to grow by only 80 students, fairly static growth. 

The county will grow but the school age population will not.

Shoemaker turned to legislative priorities of the Utah School Board Association and the Association of  Superintendents.  Enrollment growth is declining, the economy is growing and the legislature is mandated to fund full enrollment. But even though enrollment is down many costs are still the same. Special education needs increases too.  The two boards are asking for 5 ½ percent increase on WPU (Weighted Pupil Unit) and are telling legislators that at least a 2 ½ percent increase to maintain, programs and numbers of teachers is imperative.  The additional money will be used to attract and retain good educators as many of our education graduates are going to higher paying areas in the west.  They are also asking $5 million a year to attain 85% state support for transportation costs.  Rich County is at 50% state funding. 

In reaction to Our Schools Now, a ballot initiative for more monies to the schools, Senator Howard Stevenson, a longtime opponent of school funding, has introduced a new proposal for setting school tax rates in a way that would generate $38 million. School funding equalization is again being discussed to provide equity in property tax distribution so that all students get an equal education.