PCE Press Releases

Parents for Choice in Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact:

Judi Clark (801) 710-2345

Stop Diverting Money Away from the Classroom in Lean Budget Years to Subsidize Union Salaries!

Salt Lake City, UT - April 20, 2009 - Parents for Choice in Education would like to offer up a cost saving suggestion to certain school districts across the State searching for ways to deal with recent budget cuts. Granite Superintendent, Stephen Ronnenkamp, recently pledged to shield classrooms from budget cuts, but said he is running out of options (should we cite SLTrib). Davis District reportedly has decided to increase class size as their solution to shrinking tax revenues. Well, we have one cost cutting option for these two districts and all others participating in a very questionable and unethical practice, stop diverting money away from the classroom in lean budget years to subsidize union salaries!

Will an end to this practice solve the budget woes of districts? "The real question," Robyn Bagley, Chairwoman of Parents for Choice in Education, said, "is whether or not districts must be held accountable to taxpayers to spend their budgets directly on the education of children; especially when tough decisions are being made about such issues as cutting music programs, fewer school days, and increased class size. Union salaries are not an appropriate expenditure." Unions are a private organization whose sole responsibility is to represent the interests of dues paying members. Taxpayers should not be asked to subsidize an organization that does not represent them, regardless of the union's self-serving claims about benefiting districts.

The Teacher’s Union (UEA) adamantly fought a bill introduced in the 2009 legislative session that would have put an end to this inexcusable practice. In opposition of the bill UEA President, Kim Campbell stated, "This bill would take away the voice of teacher associations." (Deseret News Feb. 24, 2009). “That does not qualify as a good reason to divert tax dollars from classrooms,” said Robyn Bagley. Her message to the UEA is this, “When the quality of our children’s education is being so seriously impacted by budget cuts, it is time for the union to put the interests of children ahead of their own by stepping up to the plate and paying the entire salary and benefits of their own full-time employees."

Districts must ensure that tax dollars be used for the strict purpose of educating Utah children. We call on participating school districts to put a stop to this inappropriate practice now!

*This amount does not include the district’s portion of payroll taxes and benefits.

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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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