Is state school board really necessary?
John Florez
It's a committee of 15 that, under our state constitution, is responsible for ". . . the general control and supervision of the public education system" — yet it seems, all too often, it abdicates its responsibility to the Legislature, which then takes the blame for our faltering schools. Local school boards are simply clones of the state board. They are designed to give the appearance of local control while diluting the responsibility among their members so everyone and no one is responsible.
Like many bureaucracies, it looks like board members have lost sight of their constitutional and legislative responsibilities. They seem to have perfected the art of how to avoid making decisions on important matters.
For example: Do nothing, and when things don't get done, ask the Legislature for more money, knowing the request is unrealistic and often fails to account for what they did with the money in the first place. When challenged by the Legislature regarding problems, their reaction is to write more regulations and require schools to follow them. At the bottom of the food chain are the front-line teachers who must then neglect their students in order to meet another accountability requirement.
The board sidestepped setting graduation standards consistent with the Utah Basic Skills Competency Tests, leaving it for each local school board to decide what kind of a diploma it would give for students passing the test or not. If the board is not willing to decide on one state standard, why are they needed?
Today's school boards are remnants of good intentions of the Founders, who never imagined there would be a dearth of leadership lacking the will to make tough decisions for the common good. They have the power to make decisions but are reluctant to take the heat from their constituents. While local school boards are careful not to challenge the state board, they do not seem to hesitate to blame the Legislature for their problems.
Recently, a local school board waffled on closing certain schools. Initially, it decided to keep them open, even though they would have to cut programs. Others at the meeting said if they needed more money they would go to the Legislature to ask to correct the problem. What is little known is that local school districts have the power to tax, yet they would rather put the burden on the Legislature. Local boards were created to put education in the hands of citizens who were closest to the people they were to serve. Apparently, some are eager to get the accolades but hesitant to take responsibility.
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