Reader comments
Retired BYU administrator seeking state House seat

Jarvis needs to add that Utah is also ranked number one in percent of taxes going to education. And ranked 6th in the Nation for highest total taxes. Seems a good "administrator" ought to know that?

He also forgot to mention that the Legislature gave teachers a $2,500 permanent raise last year, and are planning to bump that up to $5,000 this year. This is in addition to the raises they already receive through the pay schedule.

Besides that, why would I trust a school administrator to raise teacher pay? Aren't they the reason why the $7,500 we're currently spending per student isn't making it into the classroom?

Good job Dave Hansen and anonymous, I could not have said it any better. Now that they have voted down vouchers they thing they have us by the well you know. For some reason they are coming out of the walls the more you give them the more the want.I know I did get a raise of 2,500 dollars last year did you. Plus another 2,500 this year plus the 1,000 bonus. 6,000 for one year is more then enough I think.

Vouchers were voted down because Utahns recognize the value of investing in education. We need legislators who represent us. Go Dave Hansen!

Uh.. whoops! I was looking at the previous comments and wrote Dave Hansen when I meant Don Jarvis.

D'OH!! ;-)

It is true that last year Utah teachers did get a $2,500 raise (the largest they remember), plus $600-$1,000 depending on their school district. Legislators are discussing another raise, but it has not yet been passed. However, beginning salaries in Wyoming are still roughly $9,000 more than those in Utah. Yes, ours are getting some good raises, but it is not yet enough to attract and hold excellent people.

Dr. Jarvis would be well advised to compare the "total compensation" of Utah's teachers to the "total compensation" of teachers in the surrounding states. This is a much more meaningful measuring stick than "salaries."
Utah's teacher retirement program, negotiated over the years by the UEA, has put Utah's teachers in a box. Because of the required contributions to the retirement program, less money is available for teachers salaries in the very years they are rearing their families and their cash needs are high. When they retire and their cash requirements are lower, most of them earn more from social security and the state retirement program than they were earning in their final years as teachers.

I am delighted to see candidates for the legislature of the caliber of a Don Jarvis. We need informed, reasonable people like Dr. Jarvis who can exercise common sense and keep at the forefront the future of our state. Don's integrity and commitment to eduction are important steps in the right direction. We NEED him the Utah State Legislature.

The comments on this article demonstrate why Utah is facing a huge teacher shortage. There is a certain segment of the population that refuses to recognize a simple truth: If we want to attract and retain the best teachers, we have to offer them two things--a competitive salary and some respect. Unfortunately, many of our state legislators, just like Dave and Annonymous 1 and 2, would rather vilify teachers and blame them for the problems created by lawmakers. It's time for some new blood and a real commitment to the children of this state. Three cheers for Don Jarvis!