Progress is noted in ed funding
That's the most common response of 601 Utah registered voters surveyed by Dan Jones & Associates for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV on how the Utah Legislature treated — and paid for — public schools.
Thirty-seven percent of respondents agreed the Legislature has taken steps to better treat and fund public schools and teachers, though more needs to be done.
Fifteen percent of respondents agreed the Legislature has made great strides in funding public schools and giving teachers "fine pay raises."
But 20 percent of respondents agreed the Legislature has given public schools some attention in recent years but also adopted harmful policies like vouchers for private school tuition — a law voters overturned in November before vouchers ever went to families.
Another 18 percent agreed the Legislature has not given public education the attention or funding it needs and has adopted anti-public education policies.
Six percent offered other opinions of the Legislature's work, and 4 percent said they didn't know.
"It's 52 to 38 percent" positive to negative, said Curtis, R-Sandy. "I look at it and say, 52 percent recognize the great strides we have made. I think that's a pretty good percent."
Having just 38 percent take note of "some strides but also the negativity of vouchers" is comforting just months after the public overturned the voucher law, Curtis said. "It's actually encouraging to see a strong majority are ready to move on."
Still, the session wasn't a perfect one for educators. While educators acknowledge many good things, they were to an extent overshadowed by an omnibus education bill. The bill was unprecedented in its scope and method, and its effects are still being sorted out.
"It's still kind of early to look at the fine print," said Al Church, principal of the Academy for Math, Engineering & Science charter high school.
Public schools have had banner years in the past two legislative sessions.
This year, they received about $441 million in new money, $100 million of which was to go into a savings account as an economic safeguard. Last year, they got about $50 million more than that in new cash.
"I think (legislators) did well on education. I think there was concern with teachers about the voucher issue, and I think the Legislature has tried to make up for that," said Scott Crump, social studies teacher at Bingham High School. "They put education as a priority, and they showed it by walking the walk instead of just talking the talk."
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