Ravell Call, Deseret News Archives
House leaders stand ready to help in the classroom if needed, statement says
SALT LAKE CITY — Ahead of a planned walkout by members of the Salt Lake Education Association on Friday, House Speaker Brad Wilson is urging educators to “consider alternatives.”
“We strongly believe there are more productive ways to express concern which avoid the unnecessary disruption of the education of Utah students and the inconvenience for parents who may have to adjust work schedules to accommodate the walkout,” Wilson, R-Kaysville, said in a statement on behalf of House leaders Wednesday.
The walkout is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, starting at the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, followed by a march to the state Capitol and a rally.
Wilson, who met with reporters earlier in the day, expressed frustration with the Salt Lake Education Association’s plans to walk out.
“I’m going to take a deep breath because this is very frustrating to me. We have had no one reach out from that education association asking for a meeting and we’ve been meeting with education stakeholders daily. We will continue to be up here working to try to solve the education funding needs of our state like we have been all session,” he said.
Wilson added: “In addition to the record high amounts of investment we have made in public education over the last five to 10 years, we will be making a significant contribution to the weighted pupil unit this year and we’ll be helping protect public education funding in the future as well,” through a proposed separate rainy day fund for ongoing income tax revenues earmarked for education that could total $100 million.
According to a post on the association’s Facebook page, members are walking to increase funding for Utah public schools “so we can adequately serve our students! This is NOT about teacher salaries. It’s disgraceful for Utah to be dead last in education funding and expect teachers, secretaries, tutors, custodians, to pick up the slack!”
Local association officials were not immediately available for comment.
In a letter to school district patrons regarding the Salt Lake Education Association’s day of action, Salt Lake City School District Superintendent Lexi Cunningham wrote that district’s highest priorities are education and safety of students.
“With so many teachers anticipated to participate in the walkout, we will not have the capacity to provide adequate supervision to keep your students safe and learning that afternoon,” she wrote. As such, the district will be implementing a half-day schedule on Friday.
Wilson’s statement says legislative leaders “stand ready to visit Salt Lake City School District schools to help in the classroom if administrators need support during this disruption. We encourage the teachers to consider alternatives, including meeting with legislative leadership and reviewing actual funding proposals.”
Utah Senate leaders, meanwhile, also issued a statement that said, “We look forward to having educators from across the state at the Capitol during Educator Day on the Hill.”
“As we work to balance the state’s budget during the next three weeks, we will carefully review proposed legislation and funding proposals from legislators, stakeholders, engaged constituents and community leaders. We will be receiving and evaluating input from the state’s top government, industry and education leaders as well as individuals and families,” the Senate statement said in part.
Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said Utah has the best teachers in the country.
“I express my appreciation to educators for all they do to strengthen the state by educating our children and empowering them to have future success,” he said in the statement.
The Senate leaders’ statement notes that since 2015, Utah has spent about half of all state funds on public education. Legislators have increased annual public education spending from about $2.8 billion to $3.8 billion — a 37% percent increase.
Public education funding has increased an average of $205 million each year. This is equivalent to a more than 6% annual increase in the value of the weighted pupil unit, the statement says.
The House leaders’ statement goes on to say that legislative leaders stand ready to discuss current and future education plans with the Salt Lake Education Association, its members, or other school districts or educator associations.
“When legislators say education is a top budget priority, we mean it — and the facts show that commitment,” the statement said.
According to Wilson’s statement, legislators froze and indexed the basic property tax levy, generating $161 million.
Utah lawmakers created the Teacher and Student Success Act Program, which is providing nearly $99 million in ongoing funds to school districts and charter schools to enhance teacher compensation, retention and other school-level priorities.
More than $32 million in ongoing funds has been appropriated to school districts, charter schools, the State Board of Education, and the SafeUT app program to bolster student health, school counseling and crisis support.
“Unfortunately, the Salt Lake Education Association did not reach out to us to discuss their concerns with education appropriations prior to posting a notice online that teachers plan to walk out of their classrooms on Feb. 28,” the statement says.
This story will be updated.
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