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Show State board backed. By DONETA GATHERUM FARMINGTON - The Davis County Board of Education has adopted a resolution opposing HJR 8, a bill that would modify the Utah State Constitution to eliminate the elected State School Board of Education. Edu-cation. . , HJR 8 a measure proposed by Rep. Rob Bishop of Box Elder County, and a companion bill, HB 188, could move the Board of Education Edu-cation away from an elected body selected by direct vote of the people peo-ple to another system, possibly an office of education functioning as part of the executive branch similar to the State Department of Social Services or the Department of Transportation. If the bill passes the legislature, the question will appear on November's general election bal-II bal-II If I II' B waiiiiwmiwg lot as a Constitutional amendment. In suggesting the resolution Supt. Richard Kendell stated, "Education needs a governing body that can deal with issues on a regular basis. Despite problems over the years, it (the State Board of Education) is an important body and needs our support." The resolution also supported the State Board of Education in its role as the vocational school governing gov-erning board. Board members Ray Briscoe, Louenda Downs and Sheryl Alien supported the resolution. Board member Bob Thurgood voted against it. He said he believed the intent of HJR 8 was to give more flexibility over education by local boards and school districts and that this might allow better spending of funds allocated to education. Board President Allen said the change would give more power to the legislature and not to local boards. Mr. Briscoe agreed with this statement. He commented that he served on a state committee during the Matheson administration that studied methods of governing state school systems. "We looked at the systems used by every state and Utah's is the best," Mr. Briscoe concluded. "This is another opportunity oppor-tunity for some individuals to further politicize education." Also supporting the resolution was Louenda Downs, who commented, com-mented, "The State Board is elected to oversee education only. There would be a problem if the system changed. It would be possible possi-ble to change boards every time you changed governors." |