From Deseret News archives:
Tuition tax credits could go for 'test drive'
Herbert asks school board members to have open mind
The issue, a contentious one for public school advocates, was the elephant in the room at the 82nd annual convention of the Utah School Boards Association. When it finally came up during a question-and-answer session after Herbert's prepared remarks, the lieutenant governor told the school board members that Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. wants to "test drive" both tuition tax credits and vouchers, which would subsidize private education for some students.
The governor, who endorsed funding measures during his campaign, "is willing to explore" both options, Herbert said, provided that public education is left "harmless" during the experiment and that there is means testing that would either scale or target the credits and vouchers to favor lower-income Utahns.
"We're encouraged by your offer to sit at the table," said Utah School Boards Association president William P. Moore of the Davis School District after Herbert's talk.
Herbert outlined the Huntsman administration's education budget, unveiled on Friday, that calls for $15 million to attract "the best and the brightest" of new teachers, $14 million to enhance math instruction for 4th through 6th graders, a 4.5 percent increase in the weighted pupil unit, $10 million for literacy and math materials and $5.5 million for teacher supplies.
"Is it perfect?" asked Herbert about the budget. "Probably not. But it's a start."
Herbert said he expects that the $10.1 million originally recommended for instruction to help students pass high-stakes tests like the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test a recommendation that was eliminated from the governor's budget will likely be re-examined during the legislative session, which begins Monday.
The governor, Herbert reported, is currently doing a national search for a liaison between education and the governor's office, but the salary provided for this position by the Legislature is inadequate. "The challenge is to get somebody that good to work for that cheap."
E-mail: jarvik@desnews.com
Comments
- NBA pressured to stop Adidas plan 9:34 a.m.
- Senate opens health care debate 9:30 a.m.
- Long road out of recession 9:24 a.m.
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- BYU is champion of the state
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Man dies in dirt bike crash
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
397 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
196 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
89 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...




You can be the first to comment on this story.