State school board says no to education reform

Despite talks with the House minority whip, the State Board of Education voted to stand against his $20 million education reform bill because it misrepresents top board priorities.

Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, Friday outlined for the board his HB181, which allots $7.5 million to give high school juniors vouchers for private or public school help to pass the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test, $12.5 million for an elementary math pilot program linked to merit pay for teachers, and a provision making it easier for schools to fire bad teachers.

"My desire is to do something constructive for education" by finding out what works and eventually funding it annually, Urquhart said of his bill, which awaits full House debate.

But the board voted 8-to-6 — the minimum majority needed — to oppose the bill.

"If we support this bill, we support privatizing education, and we support merit pay," issues the board hasn't discussed, board member Laurel Brown said. "I think we're being held hostage. We're prostituting ourselves if we say, we have to have the money."

But board chairman Kim Burningham and member Tim Beagley focused on the money the bill would bring to help students.