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Show Teachers Respond Members of the Garfield Education Educa-tion Association were not in their classrooms Monday, Sept. 25, in an attempt to alert the governor and legislature that it is time education is fully funded in this state and to give support to teachers across the slate in conveying this message. This action in no way reflects any ill feelings or dissension toward to-ward our local board of education or superintendent. We are pleased with their efforts and support of the educational edu-cational system in this county. Through this action, teachers hope the governor and the legislature legisla-ture will understand they must give education a priority if our local board, superintendent and teachers arc to reach our goals which are to make our students competitive with those across the state and nation, and to give our students every possible pos-sible educational opportunity. Spending per student in Utah has dropped from 25th in the nation to 49lh which means only one state in this country spends less on their students than Utah. Salaries in Utah have also dropped far below the national average and Garfield salaries have dropped from 15th in Utah to 39th. This means that only one district in Utah pays its teachers less than Garfield. We are all aware of the needs in our district from over- crowded classrooms to outdated books to critical building needs in Brycc Valley and other communities. communi-ties. Our existing buildings need additional ad-ditional work and our students need programs and equipment that they are going without. Our local board struggles with funding each board meeting, and these men are prudent and careful with the state and local funding they receive. However, as we all know, spending cannot exceed ex-ceed funding. Utah is a state of children, many children, and we all must pay for their education. Garfield teachers are paying, from their pockets, an average av-erage of $250 per year on classroom class-room needs which our local funding cannot provide. Please see this walkout (not a strike as some would have you believe) for what it is a further attempt to make Utah an education state not just a state of children. Everyone is welcome to visit the classrooms and talk with teachers, teach-ers, students, administrators and board members. Only through communication and cooperation do any of us win. We are interested and concerned about our children and it takes money along with concern to make our students the best they can become. k Please jpin us in our effortsjo communicate 6ur needs to the leajl-ership leajl-ership of this state. Find out who your local legislators are and research re-search their voting records; don't listen strictly to their rhetoric. We thank you for your support as parents, taxpayers, grandparents, or whatever your role may be in this county. The teachers in this district will continue to provide quality education to your students and we will continue to fight for the needs of education in this state. Sincerely, The Garfield Education Association, Debra Pollock, President David Pollock, President-Elect |