PCE Press Releases

Parents for Choice in Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact:

Judi Clark ( 801) 710-2345

PCE insists children must come
“first and foremost”

Salt Lake City, UT – April 9, 2009 – Contrary to the “status quo” opinion, Parents for Choice in Education (PCE) insists that children must come first and foremost when considering the State Board of Education’s recent decision to allow school districts to cut up to five days off the 2010-11 calendar year.

Recently Kim Campell, UEA President, clarified the union's position stating, "Our stance is that we should maintain jobs first and foremost.” She went on to explain that she feels reducing days preserves the quality of education. (KCPW, Apr 07, 2009 by Faroe Robinson ) PCE adamantly disagrees. "Claims that reducing instructional days preserves the quality of education is sheer nonsense," responded Robyn Bagley, PCE Board Chairman. She elaborated by saying, "This is a time for districts to act responsibly by tightening their belts and using this budget cut as an opportunity to make the tough decisions about where they are allocating precious dollars. During lean budget years, our local districts must be held accountable for how they spend and appropriate taxpayer dollars. They are tasked with the job of educating Utah's children, and our students cannot afford to slip further behind because they are unwilling to re-evaluate their spending traditions."

Our public education system is currently experiencing minimum budget cuts despite a considerable drop in revenues. Depending on the future economic environment, education may have to face much deeper cuts of 15% or even higher in the coming years. As an answer to budget woes, will the education establishment continue to cut days or threaten to increase class sizes again and again?

Our school districts have a responsibility to look for creative and innovative ways to weather this storm. Cutting school days or teachers is not Utah’s only means of meeting these budget demands. We encourage all districts to evaluate their budgets and find ways to address this challenge without infringing upon the basic and fundamental framework of our students needs.

This is an important decision that should not be dominated only by those in the education establishment. Parents, taxpayers and citizens are the funders and customers of public education. Their voice is equally important and should be treated as such. PCE has notified their substantial list of supporters to encourage them to engage in this process by contacting their local school board members immediately to weigh in on this very critical matter.

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Parents for Choice in Education is dedicated to ensuring every child has equal access to a quality education by empowering parents, increasing choice, and promoting innovative solutions to Utah’s educational challenges.

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