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Show Degree Statistics Can Be Manipulated Last week's article from the Utah Taxpayers' Association . about the School Board's voted vot-ed leeway election illustrates the unfortunate degree to which statistics can be manipulated. THIS IS regrettable because it demonstrates either gross negligence on the part of UTA or a deliberate intention to mislead through distortion and omission. In describing the needs of the Davis District, the UTA used financial data which was two-years-old, and indeed, two years ago, the District was in a satisfactory financial position. Current financial data is readily available, and there is no excuse for building an argument on outdated figures. THE BUDGET two-years, ago simply won't cover adequately the current school population in Jhis high-growth high-growth district. A second flagrant distortion relates to UTA alleged per pupil expenditure. UTA claimed that Davis was the second sec-ond highest along the Wasatch Front, and cited Salt Lake as being higher, and several others which are lower. However, the Ogden, Murray and Provo districts xrwere"for some reason omitted v from the list:' which has a' higher per pupil expenditure, and when Davis is compared with all of the Wasatch Front districts, we are at the front average not "second highest." UTA would have Davis residents believe that there has been no actual loss of federal impacted area money,' and that the State school finance program will keep the District on par with our neighbors even if federal funds dry up as "icing on the t3N ACTUALITY the state minimum school program does guarantee just that: a uniform minimum per pupil unit. But the fact is that our sister districts have other sources of revenue above the minimum school program which Davis doesn't have even with federal funding. The voted leeway is one such financial tool, as are certain other special taxes. The great disparity in district wealth is directly related to the wealth of the tax base, and Davis simply doesn't have the same resources as Salt Lake, Granite and Jordan districts. THE BOTTOM line is that passage of the voted leeway is necessary if our children are to have an education experience which approaches the opportunity provided in neighboring districts. UTA officials can afford to play fast and loose with the figures - after all, their kids don't attend our schools! David Irvine |
