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Show The Magna TimeiAVeot Valley Newi, Feb. 21,2002 3 Community with guest writer Sarah Meier Education is the Public Lighting the fire within ' tX later ' n Getting into the Olympic spirit, Students from Hunter Junior High pre- sented the Governors Olympic musical Light the Fire Within Before the musical students presented a cultural fair that included displays on other countries and musical and dance performances. At right, Byron Sesa, Lisalei an Curtis Moeiliolo with a display on Samoa Democracy. In America we believe that all children can leam. Tuition Tax Credits, as proposed in Senate Bill 69, should cause serious concern to the citizens of Utah. The pioponents of this bill indicate that the influx of new students, 100,000 during the next 10 years, is cause for alarm. They say that moving students out the public schools, into private schools is necessary to deal with this growth. But in looking over our history, according to statistics from the Utah State Office of Education, Utah gained 101,847 in the decade between 980 and 1 990. In 960 every 1 00 tax payers were supporting 57 students. Today every 100 adults are supporting 37.45 students. And in 2030 every 100 adults will be supporting 38.31 students. Utah has handled these large increases of students before and with fewer taxpayers per student. 69 provides $2,1 16 to private school for each enrolled "qualifying student," plus an additional $1,058 to the district in which the "qualifying student resides." This is obviously intended to placate districts for the loss of students and funds to private schools. But it would say to everyone that the state is willing spend 50 percent more for each private school student than it is willing to spend for public school stu 1 1 Photos by Debbi Olson Ten million circulated by SL Library System The Salt Lake County Libraiy System made library history in December of 2001. The number of items checked out in a single year broke the ten million ceiling. Over 10,109,500 items have been circulated as of the close of business on December 31, 2001. This is a first for the Library System and for the state of Utah. Circulation has grown steady for the state's largest public library over the years, but in 2001 the County Library experienced an unprecedented 15 increase. The considerable population growth in the Salt Lake Valley and the resulting demand for library service of are reflected in our numbers; the system has over 440,000 registered borrowers and offers over two million items for checkout. "Circulation per borrower and per fulltime employee is more than twice the national median (according to the Public Library Data Service's 2001 Statistical Report)," noted Library Director, Jim Cooper. "All in all, Salt Lake County Library System is checking out more materials for less cost and with fewer staff than most other systems nationwide." To demonstrate the amount of materials that were checked out in 2001 , ten million items: if stacked one on top of another would reach 158 miles high (higher than the space shuttle's orbit) - if placed end to end would reach 1,895 miles (more than the distance from Salt Lake to Washington D.C.) - would weigh 1,560 tons (the weight of 284 elephants). The ten million figure translates to 3,300 items checked out per hour or nearly one every second. Director Cooper submits, "The dedication of our staff and the love of our patrons renew our commitment to our role in shaping the future of families and the strength of our community." - SB dents, and it creates a whole new level of expenditure over and above current appropriations. of Tuition Tax Advocates that this gives parents and students more choice in education. In Granite School District, there are approximately 5,000 students who attend a public school outside of their designated boundaries. Parents in Granite already exercise choice. "Senate Bill 69 would give 'scholarship granting organi- zations' unlimited opportunity to decide which students received the benefit of scholarship funds made available by this tax credit scheme. The bill provides no guidelines whatsoever. The scholarship granting organization could choose to give scholarships only to rich children, or only to Mormon children, or children. only to blue-eye- d Moreover, private schools would retain their existing right to select only the students they want. While the bill purports to give parents more choice in where their children go to school, it actually gives far more power to scholarship granting organizations and to private schools in allowing them total freedom of choice as to who gets the scholarships and who gets admitted," said Dr. Stephen F. Ronnenkamp, Granite Superintendent) news story reported in In a ARIZONA REPUBLIC last year, a spokeswoman for Arizona's Governor readily admitted that "It is mostly e families whose kids already are in private schools who are taking advantaged of the program, not the poor kids supporters claimed it would help." Who would qualify for the tuition tax credit in SB 69? If a family with three children had an income in 2001 of $50,000 and after deductions paid $1,300 in taxes to the state of Utah, this family would qualify for one $1,300 tax credit. This would not offer much help when private tuition is between $4,500 and $10,000. Keep in mind that this family would have to pay the tuition first, and then get the tax credit later when they filed their taxes. Families with lower incomes would benefit even less. the legislature more accountaour for bility public schools, SB 69 does not require the same accountability from private schools that would benefit from tax dollars. Everyone benefits from an educated society; consequently, everyone shares the financial responsibility to make our public schools the best they can be. Please contact your Senator and Representative. Tell them you do not support Tuition Tax Credits and you want them t vote against Senate Bill 69. If you do not know who your legislators are, you can contact Sherrie Swensen (County Clerk) at 9 or look on the Internet at middle-incom- While 468-351- http:www.le.state.ut.us 1 im ijMk C.RATI SfBltWPAH.M0S GOOD FOR ONE CHILD 12 YEARS UNDER A GENERAL SALT LAKE CO. EQUESTRIAN PARK SHOWS: 2:00 DISCOUNT 8Mmf8 & 7:00 PM ADULT TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: Q CENTER: 801 ) 2W-4W-0 ACRUSGZIVara MBWAY Good lot CWkirwi Mt undlniM. 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