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Show 7 THE GREEN SHEET Thursday, January 15, 1987 "? , ? Bl11 S, Qr,0n ,ells ponelmembersH ih Si hot ,QudienCe stress must be placed on academic and less emphasis given to courses in order AND WHAT ABOUT . . . Audience members questioned panel members concerning a variety of educational topics including physical education, the career ladder program, advanced placement and concurrent enrollment courses, gifted and ,0 Promo'e efficiency in education. He urged ci,ilens ,0 O'100 le9isla,ors concerning proposed tax hikes to fund education. extra-curricul- Series Of Areas Meetings Begins talented classes, the driver troining, teacher certification techniques. l ratio, school, volunteers, innovative teaching odministrator-to-pupi- year-roun- and - Educators Seek Grassroots Support For Tax Increase by Ralph II. Roll (iirt'i i ,s hrrt s l.ill It ilrr GRANGER, We can take pride in our schools," the voice on the recon-dintold those assembled at Pioneer elementary here Thursday Utah is doing an exceptional job in providing a high quality education for students." the voice added. That message was stressed again and again during a slide presentat- ion and the panel discussion which followed concerning the current crisis in education funding in the Beehive State - a message which educators hope to impart on the grassroots level in a series of similar meetings throughout the state. Thursday's meeting, sponsored by the Pioneer elementary PTA, was among the first of a number of similar gatherings which will be held prior to the close of the 1987 session of the State Legislature. Utah educators hope to gain public support through these meetings for a tax increase to aid education -either the $49 9 million proposed by Gov. Norm Bangerter. if not the en- - Legislators, Educators Address Funding Continued from page Utahns can save "substantial amounts of money" on higher education costs because the state has the largest percentage of students taking Advanced Placement courses in the nation, earning college credit while still in high school - achieving the cost of college credit at earning those same credits in Utah colleges; Utah leads the nation in improvement ol students' scores on ACT tests, which are taken by most college-bounstudents in the state. Utah schools are getting better and they cost less than those in any other state." he said The Alliance supports school efficiency measures that do not impair the education of Utah's children " But in order to maintain the current level of educational efficiency in Utah, he pointed out. increased funding is needed Improx mg Utah's schools is dependent upon public commitment How we regard our schools has a powerful impact on what occurs in them " Utahns must be educated, productive and involved in making success happen for Utah to flourish in the future, he stressed. Education is truly Utah's most critical industry. Without excellence in education, the promise of Utah cannot be fulfilled All we're asking is that you don't abandon Utah's " public education system The goal of the Alliance, he told the educators and legislators, is to involve public officials, parents, business and industry leaders, as well as educators in the quest for excellence in education "The time has come for public one-thir- d schools to be aggressively supported by parents, school boards, business leaders and government officials and for this state's historic commitment to public education to be reaffirmed vigorously by all. Seven points were stressed for action in the current session of the State Legislature: Maintain the school property tax level at 21.28 mills and continue full funding of kindergartens as a basic state program; Authorize local school boards to state-mandate- d levy a two mill, perty tax. replace pro- d (This revenue would funding lost through elimination of special purpose, optional and other local programs) : Increase the weighted pupil unit value by 4 2 percent ot meet the Consumer Price Index rise and cover costs of educators additional experience and training; Continue tne career ladder program. increasing the funding by at least $7.4 million. (The Governors Committee on Education projected full funding for this program at $49 million. Current funding is $34 million, so the Alliance's proposal calls for about half the needed appropriation); Provide about $25 million to cover the cost of about 12,000 additional young people in Utahs schools next year; Increase sales tax, income and corporate franchise taxes to bridge the gulf between Utah's school funding needs and revenues; and Enact a soda pop tax and use the proceeds to build a trust fund that will guarantee the weighted pupil unit (This is intended to protect Driver Education Future letters from insurance agents stating that there would be a 10 to 12 percent increase on insurance premiums within a year if the program is discontinued Speaking on the fifth phase of driver training which is optional. Ron Rushton, motorcycle specialist for the Granite District, said that at one time there was a proposal to take the classroom instruction out of driver training and substitute a TV screen. However, he noted students can't ask a video questions "The number one thing that kids learn from driver training is that atthey are instilled with the right titude before they get behind that wheel," Rushton said He went on to say that the motorcycle phase of the instruction was begun in 1976 as an experimental program for a number of years that was dropped for lack of funding, Rushton said As far as I'm aware, the Granite district is the only district in the state that offers the motorcycle training with their driver education program. "I own one, I ride it and I've had some close calls, he continued, and I know that kids need to be vehitaught the right way to use the cle and the right- attitude to help keep them alive. "There are more and more motorcycles out on the road now, and its to important that students learn how go with the flow of the traffic. However, all our driving instruction is done on the driving range, because the wav the laws are now we cant lake a chance on taking them out in the road " - education from unexpected budget cuts or other revenue losses. ) Other suggestions for increasing funding for education were also made by some of the legislators present at the meeting. The head tax" was discussed in which limits would be placed on the number of deductions a family may take on state income tax. Rep. Arlo also sought supJames port for the idea of a state lottery to fund education. I warned many of you over a year ago that we could be facing a shortage in education funding because of shortfalls, he told the audience. "We are surrounded by states which have gambling in one form or another which is draining our economy Some of you may think its immoral to spend a dollar to go out and buy a lottery ticket, but I think it's even more immoral to make a kid walk to school because we cant afford to buy a gallon of gasoline to give him a bus ride. A lottery is something we are going to have to seriously consider. While Wednesday's meeting may have raised more questions than it gave answers, a commitment to education by nearly all in attendance was asked in dealing with the current session of tire $86.7 million favored by the State School Board. Increased student enrollments and reduced state revenues have s combined to Utah's education system, the audience was told. New priorities, increased efficiency and an investment of additional tax dollars are needed to maintain the quality of the Beehive states education system The slide presentation, prepared by the State School Board, stressed that Utah has the largest student population growth in the country, while at the same time maintaining investthe lowest ment. It also explained the new Core Curriculum requirements which has beefed up graduation standards and the resulting rise in ACT and SAT scores among high school seniors. Innovations such as year-rounschool, extended days, double sessions and other forms of alternate scheduling were also mentioned as ways in which Utah is meeting the challenge of educating its youth The slide presentation, though, was merely a prelude to a panel discussion featuring Lori Chivers of the Governor's office, State Senator Bill Barton, Darlene Hutchison of the State School Board, Granite School District assistant superintendant Riley O'Niel, J. Dale Christensen of the Granite Board of Education and Lonora Plothow. president of the State PTA Questions from the audience were directed to each panel member con cerning the proposed tax increase, over-stres- d face-to-fac- e d I would let the legislature know education is a priority " Questions ranged far and wide, covering such topics as physical education, the career ladder program, advanced placement and concur! ent emollment courses, gifted and talented administrator training, classes, thedrLerisonhisown. I will be the first to admit they are dangerous, but if they want to ride one, they need to know how to increase the safety factor when they The driver do," Rushton said. education class is the most impro-tan- t class that kids can take, because there is no other class that will do as much to insure that they will have a long life. Some say that parents can teach their offspring to drive, but do the parents have the knowledge, the facilities, or the patience? These are three things that they must have, because if they haven't got them, their kids are at risk, Rushton school, year-roun- volunteers, teacher certification and mnox atixe teaching techniques Increased lunding is essential if the quality of education in Utah schools is to continue," Hutchison pointed out "Maintaining a system is our only assurance of a successful thriving economy m the future " All six panel members, however, stressed the importance of supporting the ALERT program (Agenda lor Leadership in Educational Resources for Tomorrow i, a nonprofit. organization of Utah citizens concerned about the current funding ci isis in education ALERT is supporting Gov. Bangerters legislative proposal for specific education reforms and increased lunding, it was noted Individuals can make a ditference or writing legislators to express concerns for Utah's education system and supporting ALERT, the patrons were told Each member of the audience was gix en a fact sheet and a reply card to learn more about ALERT For additional mfoi mation on ALERT, those interested may call or write ALERT. 42(1 E South Temple, suite 320. Sait Lake City. Utah 84111 quality-educatio- n 2 f the State 0 Legislature. The future of education in this state is at stake, Bishop told those in attendance. We must have a tax increase now. I dont think the public understands that we're in deep trouble and we need additional dollars just to keep afloat. We've got to get the word out that the public perception that education is fat is incorrect " 0 0 0 the council concerns of local firefighters over proposed cuts in county funds to the council. According to Homen safety could be compromised by cuts that are being recommended by the County Commission. As a union we are concerned that any decrease will sooner or later result in a loss of life, said Homen. According to Homen. firefighters are not recommending an increase in taxes. It is not our job to set a course for how the County Commission funds the program, but we have to keep service at a certain level and whatever it takes should be done. said Homen. Homen encouraged o 9 men other business, Sandy Mayor o c o j c o Compilation, Computerized Direct Mail Programs, Personalized LettersForms, Zip 4 and Carrier Routing. Also Available . . . c! GRAPHIC ARTS M AILING SERVICES MAILING LISTS PRINTING DEMOGRAPHIC C: war- Stephen Holbrook, committee chairman, said he would like to raise approximately $1.8 million to meet the committee's goals. He said the committee is hoping to receive about from local governments, $660,000 $100,000 from the state and the rest from private donations. Another $1.8 to million will be needed in 1988-8build a facility for homeless single n o council members to attend a public hearing scheduled by the County Commission on potential cuts in fire service Council Of Governments a request to fund another homeless project. It might get a bit sticky," he said. the ratio, driver UACC He added that the thing that he didn't like about the program was the lack of control, because in the driver education car, there is a set of dual controls, but on a motorcycle, In program cuts and innovations in the w ay education is addressed here Questioned concerning the efficiency of Utah's school system. Christensen told about live dozen patrons attending the meeting. "We have the most effective. efficient school system in the United States tzht here m I tah,' tie said 'We are able to educate more children at the lowest amount of money per pupil put into education of any state in the whole nation " Concerning the FT Vs reaction to proposed program cuts. W'o keep talking in vicious circles." Plothow pointed out "None of us really wants to cut education, but we're forced into a dilemma The PTA feels it would benefit Utah by building a movement in the diree and other forms of tion of year-rounalternative scheduling as a costour exsaving measure to maintain " isting level of education We should make every effort to eliminate trill classes." Sen Barton told the audience when asked which programs could be cut W'e should stress basic academics, which now forms only about 30 percent of the Parents high school curriculum should make every effort to contact their legislators to tell them whether " they want a tax increase or not "You'xe got to be kidding." "How Christensen interjected many people do you really think will call their legislators to say Please raise my taxes". What they should really do is contact the.r legislators to tell them they support what education is doing in I tah. which 3 Steve Newton said the proposed rant clearance program has hit a snag. Were essentially at square one and now well have to come up with an alternative. The program would have allowed police officers, upon stopping and questioning a traffic violator, to confiscate any Utah drivers license from citizens with outstanding bails and warrants. The license would have been taken if a computer check indicated the license had already been revoked or suspended. New ton said the snag is due to the computers which aren't yet able to make quick license checks. C C TRIPLE A ADVERTISING AND DIRECT MAIL c o o id Formerly llarlellanksS.L.C.) A ;o Division of Diversified Suburhan Newspapers 3472 WEST 2100 SOUTH SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH id 84119-119- 9 973-255- 5 F |