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Show The Park Record D Section A Thursday, January 1 3, 1 994 D Page A1 2 It's time to tell the legislature Kids deserve to come first Park City has acquired a reputation for educational quality in Utah, which has been one force drawing newcomers. Certainly, the schools in this area are blessed with dedicated teachers and involved parents, as well as a strong tax base. Students score consistently above national and state averages on standardized tests. However, this district's student-teacher ratio and per-pupil expenditure are among the lowest in the country. If Park City were a state, it would rank one short of dead last in these categories. The only state lower would be the rest of Utah. Park City schools spent $3,386 for each student in 1992-1993 to provide one teacher for every 23.8 children. Technically, they were overstaffed. The student-teacher ratio would have been closer to 25 to one except for for lower than expected enrollment growth. While that may be better than the Utah average of 24.9 students per teacher and an expenditure of $3,128, it comes nowhere near the national average of $5,598 per student and a student-pupil ratio of 17.3. Even Mississippi spent $185 more than Park City and $443 more than Utah on each of its school children. Money is certainly not the sole indicator of academic quality. However, it is impossible to hire additional teachers or implement new programs and technology without adequate funds. Currently, Utah's solution is to funnel money away from Park City to districts that are pressed even harder for cash under equalization laws. Last year, this cost Park City nearly $700,000. This year, District Business Administrator Burke Jolley estimates that it will cost between $250,000 to $300,000. About half of this year's total is expected to come from the capital outlay fund, despite the pressing need for new school buildings here to handle growth. Editorial When the Utah State Legislature opens its session on Jan. 17, they will have about $200 million in projected extra revenue in fiscal year 1995 to spend, some of which should be funneled into the schools. They will also be considering issues that could affect school funding in Park City such as second homeowner tax rates and impact fee legislation. Park City residents have shown their support for local schools by voting property tax leeways, contributing time and money to special programs and voicing support for development impact fees. Right now is the best time for community members to voice that support to the legislature. The solution is not to shuffle money from one underfunded district to another, but to make education a budget priority. Utah's students deserve it. Watch or participate in Utah's version of the Olympic Games Access to non-prescription drugs and health care costs Editorial The Utah Winter Games are once again in full swing along the Wasatch Front. Like the planned-for 2002 Olympics, many of the venues are here in Park City. The beauty of the Utah Winter Games lies in its variety. Like the Olympics, the Utah Winter Games features athletic competition in the myriad of sports that winter enthusiasts participate in. If you're simply interested in being a spectator, there is literally something for everyone, from alpine to nordic skiing, from figure skating to ice hockey. There are even non-Olympic sports such as snowboarding and snowmobile racing. Spectators have already seen some great moments and been privy to a preview of the upcoming Olympics in Norway. Just a week and a half ago here in Park City, Laura McCabe and Ingrid Butts dueled to the finish line of the nordic skiing race at the White 1 Pine Touring Center. Over the past week, they again finished one-two at the Olympic trials in Anchorage, Alaska. McCabe is already assured of a spot on the team headed for Lillehammer, and Butts should follow suit in the next few days. ' ... And just as there is a great variety in sports being played, there is likewise a great breadth in the abilities of the competitors. From complete novice to seasoned professional, there is an event for all to participate in. While McCabe and Butts were busy pushing each other to the limit, there were many "plain folks" out making the trek around the track at the golf course, content to enjoy the outing and do as well as they could. Simply stated, the Utah Winter Games is an opportunity for all, spectator and participant alike, to savor the winter-sports wonderland that is Utah, and to enjoy our own version of the Olympics. byJ.R. Kearl Professor of Economics, BYU Got a headache? Need some relief from aches and pains? Perhaps ibuprofen will help. Prior to 1984, however, to obtain ibuprofen you would first have had to secure a prescription from a physician. Having done so, you' would then have had to purchase the ibuprofen at a pharmacy. Now ibuprofen is not only available without prescription but widely available because its sold as Advil, Nuprin, Motrin IB, or as a store brand at grocery markets, convenience stores, and other retail outlets as well as pharmacies. This ease of access to and the widespread availability of certain kinds of medication like ibuprofen are due to a two-class drug distribution system in the United States. One class of drugs (Rx drugs) is available only with a physician's (Guest Editorial the case, moreover, that lowering the cost of ' shopping also increases competition among sellers and lowers the tagged or purchase price as well. Indeed, there is evidence that tagged prices for medications are often lower with prescription-to-nonprescription switching. This, of course, is a substantial additional benefit for consumers. Thus, the overall economic benefit to consumers of a two-class drug system with a switching program is two-fold: lower implicit costs of purchasing a drug safe for self-medication self-medication because of more ready access and, often, lower prices or explicit costs because of greater competition among suppliers. It has been estimated, for example, that the annual benefit to consumers due to switches of cough and cold medicines from prescription to nonprescription status amounted to $750,000,000 dollars in 1989. Similarly, it hals been estimated that the switch of 0.5 percent hydrocortisone from Rx to OTC status in 1979 saved consumers billion dollars over the" Quote of tflie Week "A lot of them are all hat and no cow." -Tom Flinders, real estate broker, speaking about the '90s-style ranch owner. STAFF puiuiher Editor ... ..-.Andy Bemhard ..Sena Flanden Staff Writers....... Amber McKee, Nan Chalat, Luke Smith, Swan Viltitow, Dave Macfarlane Contriruting WnTEM................Tom Clyde, Rick Brough Surscriptions Debbie Schmidt Classified Manager Accounting ............. Advertising Director Advertising Sales.. RachdleEkkhoff ..Kim Dudley ......Pamela Halnsworth Tom Leese, Tracy Gallagher, Bonny Royce, Holly Rudy Graphic Artist . .-Jennifer Otto Photographer & Darkroom... ...-Eva Kropp Production ................................. ...Kit James Circulation -..-.Chucl( Cunningham , Scott Olsen Cartoonist. .....Paul Woods The Pork Record (USPS 0037-8730) 0037-8730) is published weekly by diversified Suburban Newspapers, 1670 Bonanza Dr., Park City, UT. Second Class Postage in Park City, UT. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Park Record, Box 3688, Park City, UT 84060. Entered as second class matter, May 25, 1977 at the post office in Park City, UT 84060, under the Act of March 3, 1897. Subscription rates are $18 inside Summit County, $36 outside Summit County, UT. Phone (801) 649-9014. Published every Thursday. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION 1 Year inside Summit County $1 8, outside Summit County $36 2 Years inside Summit County $32, outside Summit County $68 MasterCard or Visa No. Exp te: Name Mailing Address. Payment must be received before subsciiptbn begins Thank you prescription and then, generally, only through pharmacies. Drugs in this class have been determined to be habit forming, to have more than one potentially toxic effects, or simply to be new following three years. Another FDA switch, . and, therefore, unknown. In short, it has been this time of one percent hydrocortisone in . determined that they are safe for personal use 1991, was projected to save consumers only under a doctor's direction. As a $150,000,000 during the first year of OTC ; consequence, the Food and Drug availability. Overall, OTC medications were , Administration (FDA) requires that drugs in estimated to save consumers $10.5 billion in this class be sold only with a prescription and, 1987 when costs of medication, physician hence, that their distribution be limited. visits, travel time and time lost from work are ; The second class of drugs, over-the-counter all considered, or OTC drugs, is available without prescription Never the less, it has been suggested, those and through over-the-counter purchase. Drugs purchasing non-prescription drugs would be in this class have been determined to be safe more cautious in their self-medication if they : for self-medication when used consistent with had to purchase these medications at a , written directions included in their packaging pharmacy or get advice from a pharmacist .. and labeling. (Since there will be no prior to making a purchase. Studies indicate supervision by a physician, the FDA requires a that consumers are thoughtful and careful ; higher standard of safety for drugs in this class when it comes to matters of health and drugs, than for those in the Rx class.) OTC drugs are however. For example, a survey by Louis , widely available at a large number of different Harris & Associates shows that more than 90 retail outlets. percent of read the labels on their OTC . Ibuprofen was in the first class until 1984; it medications. Gallup polls have found , has been in the second class since then. Indeed, essentially the same pattern of consumer ! since 1972 the FDA, both at its own initiative caution with regard to self-medication. Two ( and in response to petitions from drug extensive and careful studies, one in 1983 and -t manufacturers, has shifted drugs from Rx to the second in 1992, similarly demonstrated that OTC status whenever it has concluded that the consumers are cautious and careful in self- r drugs can be safely and effectively used by medication: Individuals were found to choose consumers on the basis of labeling information treatments that were appropriate for their :i alone. As a consequence of FDA actions, 51 ailments; they did not over-medicate; they did c. switches have been made to date and there are not immediately turn to OTC medications to t now more than 400 products are available treat temporary conditions; importantly, they - over-the-counter that were only available had a good idea when to seek professional " through prescription 15 years ago. For these medical help. Thus, there is little reason to j products, no prescription is needed and the "believe that forcing consumers to purchase r products are not limited in distribution through switched drugs only from pharmacies would ; pharmacies but can be distributed through improve self medication. Consumers are i virtually any retail outlet willing to devote cautious and careful with their own health care. 7 shelf space to the product In sum, there is no additional protection"; Prescription-to-nonprescription switching needed. Indeed, the two-class drug system is ; brings substantial benefits to consumers in the one of the bright spots our system of medical form of ease of access thereby lowering the care. . indirect cost of obtaining these medications. Views expressed here do not necessarily Consumers benefit as a consequence. It is often reflect those of the Park Record. o |