Bill loses support of PTA

Utah's Parent Teacher Association leaders have pulled their support from a bill meant to give equal access to parent volunteer groups in schools.

SB199, sponsored by Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, would prohibit schools from establishing policies or procedures that favors one group over another.

In a compromise last week, Bramble deleted an amendment that would have required PTA and Parent Teacher Organization groups to waive membership dues upon a parent's request.

The compromise followed a meeting between Bramble and leaders of the state's PTA and PTO organizations.

The PTA voted the next day to support the bill.

Thursday, the PTA issued a statement: "Since that vote, additional input and information has been received from PTA attorneys and PTA members. Utah PTA leaders have become convinced that SB199 will not accomplish the goal of increasing parental involvement in our schools and may even have the potential to decrease involvement."

Bramble told the Deseret News on Thursday he is disappointed with the PTA's actions.

"I believed we were negotiating in good faith," he said.

— Amy K. Stewart