Panel seeking time on tech merger
The committee decided to take more time on the issue, after hearing multiple testimonies from individuals the potential consolidation would affect. Both sides of the issue were represented by comments from the public, including students, teachers and those in various educational leadership positions.
"This is an issue that we as a Legislature need to address in order to keep the integrity of the role and mission of the community college intact," said Rep. Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville, who is sponsoring HB284, which aims to merge the two institutions in Salt Lake and Tooele counties. "The community college is providing the same programs, the same role and the same mission that we have the Salt Lake-Tooele ATC providing."
Following a nine-month study commissioned last year by the Board of Regents, former Commissioner of Higher Education Rich Kendell recommended that SLCC assume the students and faculty, as well as the programming responsibilities and facilities of the SLTATC, to avoid "unnecessary duplication" of mission and roles.
However, current SLTATC students said they are unaware of any cost savings to them.
"We're the ones this is going to affect," said SLTATC student Anthony Mayhew, who brought a list of at least 100 signatures of students who have questions about the merger. They plan to meet with Holdaway today to further discuss HB284's implications.
Tooele School District Superintendent Mike Johnsen said a merger would go against everything an appointed coalition has been trying to build and establish over the years.
"We have been under-served for many years," he said, adding that the county has unique needs that they've been working on satisfying. "We want to give people in Tooele an opportunity to learn, live and work in Tooele County."
Johnsen asked the committee to consider funding an alternative plan that would enhance the ATC and career and technical education opportunities in the area, rather than hand over what they've built to SLCC.
"This is the first time anyone from Tooele has had a chance to say anything about this," said committee member Rep. Jim Gowans, D-Tooele. The committee plans to re-address the bill in a future meeting.
SLTATC President Scott Snelson said he will support the decision of the Legislature on the matter and will continue to serve the region "regardless of the outcome."
"You could see that no matter what, we're all here for the students," said SLCC President Cynthia Bioteau, adding that the selection of testimonies heard was a fair and genuine representation of the issues at hand.
E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com
Recent comments
"The community college is providing the same programs, the same...
Concerned Citizen | Feb. 12, 2008 at 11:27 a.m.
As a person who has been following the merger of SLT-ATC with SLCC...
Better Serve Students | Feb. 7, 2008 at 4:38 p.m.
The folks from Tooele are correct. SLCC does a very poor job of serving...
Better serve Tooele | Feb. 6, 2008 at 4:47 a.m.
