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It is time more Utah school districts begin moving toward year-round calendars.
As Governor Huntsman put it in his recent State of the State address, "It is amazing to me that, in this age of innovation and education, we have students, buildings and teachers sitting idle for three months every year. Based on any business model, this would be unacceptable."
KSL agrees, as do a majority of Utahns, according to a recent KSL/Deseret Morning News poll by Dan Jones and Associates.
Several year-round school measures are making their way through the legislative process. KSL especially likes the concept of Senate Bill 41, primarily because it would offer financial incentives for schools districts to begin making the transition to a year-round calendar rather than mandating that every school do it.
Senate Bill 41 addresses the issues of the state's teacher shortage - fewer would be needed; low teacher salaries - teachers in the pilot districts could realize a 40 percent increase in pay; and the costly need to build more schools - existing buildings would be better utilized.
Questions about air conditioning and whether the $32 million price tag should come from the Uniform School Fund or the General fund need to be resolved. Still, in KSL's view, the concept is good and warrants support.
