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Show Education Takes Brunt Of Tight New Budget By TOM BUSSELBERG North County Editor FARMINGTON Thanks-or no thanks--to the legislature and Gov. Matheson-parents Matheson-parents as well as educators can look forward for-ward to larger classes and still more cuts for education in Davis County and around the state. THE LEGISLATURE'S refusal to implement imple-ment a severence tax on oil or increase on minerals along with the Governor's cuts in' retirement mean virtually an 11 percent backslide for teachers, when the zero percent per-cent salary hike, weighted pupil unit and retirement reduction are added together, said Dave King, Davis Education Assoc. president in a Friday afternoon interview. He was joined in strong concerns by DEA Executive Secretary Dee Burningham, who called this year's legislative action a setback not equalled in at least 20 years for educators. educa-tors. THE TWO expressed concerns that with the state's average classroom size already the largest in the country compounded by Davis County's distinction as leading the state in that category for some classes. In addition, there's a fear raised by Mr. King that more teachers may exit the profession, not to mention decisions by future potential teachers to steer clear into another profession. profes-sion. It all means potential problems for students, stu-dents, though, when larger classes are forced upon them. All of the mechanical and electrical apparatus can't substitute for that personal feeling and caring teachers only can offer, Mr. King stressed. "WE HAVE extremely good people in education in Davis County. I guess I am vastly fearful-I feel for those who've made education their profession, who have tried to improve themselves every year. It has to be tremendously demoralizing for them " to feel that they're benefiting society when no rewards are given. He emphasized teacher concerns weren't pinned uppermost on a salary increase but providing sufficient funding to cover other increases brought on by inflation, such as utility costs that could jump 12-15 percent as noted by Mr. Burningham as a key example. ex-ample. IT HASN'T been only a lack of funding this year that concerned the two educators but continual cuts piled on over the I ist three or four years that compound the problem. "Our two main objectives in the last p ut of the legislative session were to keep the integrity of the (state) retirement system and at least minimal increases in the weight ed pupil unit to continue running the same basic programs. On both counts, we came up short. PERHAPS THE only bright note came with legislative efforts that found "one-time monies" to prevent the governor's recommended recom-mended 1 .5 percent cut in this year's educational educa-tional funding-a cost that would've put the Davis District in the hole, with 5915,000 to have been deleted. Mr. King said that at his school, the reaction reac-tion from teachers after hearing the legislature's legisla-ture's final actions was one of "extreme frustration, anger in a sense. I've never personally per-sonally experienced a situation where they felt lower, a feeling that they've borne much more of the brunt of the state's problems than they should." "THE LEGISLATURE and governor have made education a political football, Mr. Burningham continued. "Both in the process tried to blame each other for the cuts. As far as the kids, it doesn't matter who did.." He talked of more possibility that classrooms clas-srooms will be filled with 39-43 students in some cases, as the board of education grapples grap-ples with the potential of having to hire fewer few-er teachers and make due, in spite of the ever-growing enrollment in Davis Distnct. BOTH MEN emphasizing a desire to work with the board of education and administration, admi-nistration, realizing the difficult situational! sides are saddled with through action beyond their control. "I think we feci we've tried to maintain a good limitation in the profession, tried w help with the problems," Mr. King said, feel surely we've shouldered a much more significant share than we expected. It ' hurt in the classroom." THE LEGISLATURE suggested that the-conomy the-conomy might turn around by summer, perhaps alluding to a special session thai could be called "to make amends, Mr. BrU; ningham said, adding later, though, that he doesn't place much stock in such a possibility. possi-bility. Comparing the cuts to someone who sick and needs an operation, Mr. Burr ham said that person can't put such sutgen off. Education is being forced to curl.' efforts that will affect not only the PK!T but future for thousands of children lw willonly have this chance for tlieir educa-tion. educa-tion. WHILE THERE'S a need to trin s'"' dents in more vocational and other M-the M-the monies aren't being appropriate1 1 meet the state's job needs, Mr. King addci. noting vocational education is sullen heavily through loss of teachers. |
