Board Meeting Summary

November 7, 2008 Meeting

 

Board Suggests Possible Budget Cuts for FY 2010; Continues to Support Use of WPU Funding Mechanism

During the 2008 special session of the Utah Legislature Utah's public education ongoing budget was reduced by 3 percent, but the monies were immediately replaced with one-time funds to effectively hold schools harmless through the fiscal year 2009 budget (which continues through June 30, 2009). The money used to hold education harmless in 2009 will not be available in fiscal year 2010 (which begins July 1, 2009), so the Utah State Board of Education began looking at items to reduce the 2010 budget by 3 percent, or about $73 million. The Board voted to suggest reductions in the budget to present to the 2009 Utah Legislature.

At the same time, the Board approved a resolution maintaining its support for the use of weighted-pupil unit funding as the basic funding mechanism in Utah public education.

For more information contact:

Todd Hauber, Associate Superintendent for Business Services, (801) 538-7514.

Larry Shumway, Deputy Superintendent, (801) 538-7762.

 

Board Approves Electronic Devices in Classroom Rule

The Utah State Board of Education approved a proposed rule that would require local school districts and charter schools to regulate the use and availability of electronic devices (cell phones, cameras, laptop computers, etc.) in the classroom.

For more information contact:

Larry Shumway, Deputy Superintendent, (801) 538-7762.

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Board Supports Direct, Non-partisan Elections

The Utah State Board of Education approved a motion to support direct, non-partisan elections for the Board.

Under the existing system, candidates interested in running for the Board are first vetted by a gubernatorial committee that then forwards names to the Governor to select two candidates for the ballot.

 

For more information contact:

Patti Harrington, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, (801) 538-7510.

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Board OKs Charter Amendments, New Charter Schools

The Utah State Board of Education approved the following amendments to existing charter schools:

The Utah State Board of Education approved the following new charter schools:

  • American Preparatory Academy - Accelerated School, a proposed 570-student, K-9 charter school in the Jordan School District
  • Maria Montessori Academy, a proposed 450-student, K-8 charter school in the Weber School District
  • Quail Run Primary School, a proposed 648-student, K-8 charter school in the Alpine School District
  • Weilenmann School of Discovery, a proposed 650-student, K-8 charter school in the Park City School District.

The Utah State Board of Education referred back to the Utah State Charter School Board an application from Summit Academy, a K-9 charter school in Draper, to add grades 10-12 and increase enrollment by 900 students. Board Members expressed concern that the Jordan School District was not given adequate notice of the proposed change.

 

For more information contact:

Marlies Burns, State Charter School Director, (801) 538-7817.

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Board OKs Charter School Revolving Loan Addendums

The Utah State Board of Education approved the following loan addendums to be taken from the Charter School Revolving Loan fund established by the Utah Legislature in 2007:

For more information contact:

Marlies Burns, State Charter School Director, (801) 538-7817.

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IHC VP Honored for Career & Technical Education Work

The Utah State Board of Education thanked Intermountain Health Care Human Resources Vice President Paul Jackson for his work over the past decade in advancing the health occupation curriculum in career and technical education. Jackson has worked with both public education and higher education in developing healthcare curriculum and internships in the healthcare field.

 

 

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Board approves consent calendar

The Utah State Board of Education approved the consent calendar.

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