Comments about ‘Utah Legislature: Committee favors across-the-board cut’

Look under the education heading for the Feb. 9th story. Here is the headline:

"Utah Legislature: State budget cuts spare public education"

So which is it?

That's it. I'm retiring. I'm not willing to take another pay cut and am exhausted with the extra amount of work I've taken on this year. (28 students) I don't think I can handle a class of 34 students. I don't want to do this, but so be it. Bummer!

so does this cut include cutting the massive legal output for defending unnecessary message bills that do not stand a chance of being upheld as constitutional?

It's both.

Last year, the legislature passed a budget for the year we are currently in. However, the revenue projections were too high and so the current fiscal year (which ends at the start of July) was short. So the legislature met and made cuts to the current year's budget so that Utah won't go in debt. They spared education in this revision of the current fiscal year.

Now, they are considering the budget for the fiscal year that starts in July. While the final revenue projections (what analysts expect the state to have over this coming year) don't come in until Tuesday, they are not planning on an increase of funds from last year, so they are considering cuts. In this instance, they are thinking of making cuts to the education budget.

Hope that clarifies things for you.

Need to dip into that rainy day fund a little more to try and salvage any sense of educating our children.

An investment in education now will save the state billions in future government costs and revenue. Businesses will not come to Utah if our education keeps getting worse and worse. Yes all states are suffering but Utah was already the poorest funded state and now will never have a chance of competing with other states. This will be a major long-term negative impact on future revenues and jobs.

Also, if our kids get a decent education (which they don't currently and won;t with more cuts) they won't be on welfare, medicaid, food stamps and won't be in prison in the future. They will actually have jobs and contribute to more tax revenues in the future.

So even though this is a rough economy, invest in education as a way to make sure we have a strong future.

across-the board cuts in public education? makes no sense. when you don't have enough money to provide all the elements of education, what you cut is the frills. keep reading, writing and arithmetic. keep science and social studies. history and PE should stay. electives such as music appreciation, modern dance, auto shop, and other classes that are non-essential are what should be cut.
set the budgets, then let the districts decide.

Who's this teacher that can't handle 34 students??? I would love a class with only 34 students, try 40. If anyone out there thinks that is quality education, they are insane.

It is hard to not interpret the way legislators are attacking public education as a pay back for the voucher defeat.
Teachers are now going to fingerprinted every 5 years- like common criminals; increased class sizes; less technology; less pay; take away retirement; jump through major hoops to get pay; etc.
All of these measures will utlimately harm our children not teachers. I hope our legislators can out aside their pettiness and do what's right by saving education not destroying it.

It's simple: Drop ALL athletic programs. They do very little, if anything, for the future of our kids. The money spent on sports and the transport of athletes to competitions at the high school level would floor you!
Oh, by the way, I'm a Coach and a Chemistry teacher! Put money back into EDUCATION! And you sports fans give me a break, your glory days ended your Senior year and your efforts in athletics didn't get you your job or diploma!

Why didn't the Deseret News report about the Kingstons lost there coal mine. now Hiawatha can't have it. and the Kingstons lost there court case.

I am glad you are not my assistant coach. Sports are a huge reason that many kids graduate high school. Sure they should want the education to better themselves but shouldnt we support kids getting through school and having a chance to go to college, whatever their reasoning for going to class is. I see a lot of kids who show up to school for their free or reduced lunch, I remember paying for my lunch, I also remember not having a lunch and I did not look for some one else to provide me one. Maybe we should cut that out of the budget. And tell me this how many people show up to see a chemistry exam? Sports bring money into the school, and they keep kids in school.

plenty of money coming in as my State taxes went up $700 on $2000 more in income. Thanks flat tax which has done nothing for me expect make me pay far more than I used to. I hope the millionaires that got a tax break at my expense our using it hire people like we were promised (haven't seen much of that though; so much for the myth of trickle down economics) Dear legislators please if you are going to stick it to me like that with your flat tax use if for education and not another needless road project.

for shortchanging our kids and making Utah uncompetitive in a very competitive world. The last thing other states and countries would cut would be education as they realize it is their only hope for a promising future in this dog eat dog world. But not our leaders in the State Capital, they don't get it or worse, I fear they don't care.

Confuses me why this state is following the model the state of Michigan used in the late 1970's-early 80's recession now. Thirty years later we can see how effective the Michigan model was.

I quit as well.

Maybe you can import someone from Mexico or India to teach your kids.

Good luck.

Oh please, just keep my $600 tax return. I'd rather pay more taxes if it means my kids can receive a decent education. It makes me want to homeschool and I hate the idea of homeschooling!

I am also getting out of teaching.