From Deseret News archives:

Huntsman budget

Published: Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007 12:20 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Public education

Educators fully support Huntsman's budget recommendations — especially his continuing focus on improving educator compensation. "Throughout this budget we see a commitment for quality teaching," said Larry Shumway, state associate superintendent.

In the 2005-06 school year Utah teachers' salaries were below 75 percent of the the national average. In the following years the average has been on the rise and would be just under 90 percent if funded.

"I think that is significant improvement and he's committed to a continuing effort in this area to bring us to the national average, and that is tremendous," Shumway said.

He said increased compensation increases the ability to attract and retain quality teachers as well as an increase in other issues like job satisfaction.

The governor is also asking for $26 million to keep teachers in the field since around half leave the classroom in their first five years. The money would go to recruitment and retention programs and an expansion of teacher training programs and activities for educators in their early years.

Story continues below
Also included in the priorities was a recommendation approve ongoing funding of the $2,500 teacher salary stipend, approved by last year's Legislature, as additional funding to deal with enrollment growth.

"There are state board priorities not mentioned here — in technology and 4-6 math — and the board will continue to pursue those independent of this, but that isn't something that leads us to be dissatisfied with governor's budget proposal," Shumway said. "We are very much in support in the things that the governor has brought forward."

Higher education

Nearly $1.3 billion is projected to go toward various initiatives in higher education, including $40 million for teacher compensation efforts.

"We're very pleased with the governor's recommendation," said Amanda Covington, spokeswoman for the office of higher education. "We're especially pleased with the amount given to student financial aid and the teacher initiative as well as teacher compensation."

Huntsman allocated more than $5 million to expand teacher education programs and nearly another $5 million toward financial aid opportunities for students.

For the most part, the governor's recommendations line up with what the state's System of Higher Education requested.

"In the last few years, the Legislature and the governor have really invested in higher education in Utah," Covington said, adding that government seems to be "more secure in their position that it's an investment in students, in families and in the economy.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Monson helping Ravens soar

Reid Monson basketball camp in the summer months were great times. Reid even...

Will state consider gay rights law?

I'm so sick of this. The bottom line is that gay marriage is immoral,...

BYU football recruit turning heads

He is so great. I don't know why they just don't give him the Heisman right...

What rights do gay's lack? Their options for marriage are the same as...

Chamber has state budge answers

Surprise! The business lobby wants to increase taxes on food & tobacco -...

Obviously the goals change as the season wears on. The goal of EVERY team is...

I agree Catappy, I don't think that they would have been able to find an flds...

I watched the game on BYU TV and saw that there was some questionable play...

I’m not sure which carving “out based on our beliefs” Gayle...

Gays are the real haters! They hate children, they hate familes they hate...

Advertisements
Advertisement