Governor signs education budget into law at Riverton school

RIVERTON — Gov. Gary Herbert got a firsthand look at the engineering skills of Oquirrh Hills Middle School's robotics team Wednesday and even picked up a few souvenirs crafted by students using a 3-D printer.

Herbert visited the Riverton school for the ceremonial signing of three education bills passed during the 2017 Legislature, including the education budget.

The governor also met with student body officers before speaking to the students assembled to witness the signing of the bills.

"One out of every $3 goes into the public education fund. That is over $4.8 billion," he told the students.

Herbert touted the 4 percent increase in the weighted pupil unit for student spending passed during the session, as well as additional funding for teacher licensing and school supplies in the education budget.

"Our goal of $1 billion in public education over five years, starting two years ago, is in fact well within our reach," he said of an initiative to increase education funding by $1 billion.

Herbert said increased spending for education is important to students' career prospects and Utah's competitive position within a national and international workforce.

Rep. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, who sponsored the bill amending the state's education budget, described the teamwork needed for successful education.

While taxpayers fund education, and policymakers and educators organize it the best they can, students need to be the strongest part of the team and work hard to make good use of that money, McCay said.

Rep. Jefferson Moss, R-Saratoga Springs, spoke about one of the other bills signed at the school, HB231, which amends teacher evaluation methods.

"The intent of that bill was to remove a lot of the more prescriptive language that we were mandating down to our local districts," said Moss, the bill's sponsor. "The main intent of this is to let our teachers and our principals and our superintendents know, at the state level, that we trust you."

The bill allows respective school boards to set standards for evaluating teachers, he said.

Also signed at the school Wednesday was SB161, which requires students and parents to sign an annual acknowledgment of their school's bullying policies.

Bill sponsor Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said the legislation should invite more parental involvement in addressing bullying at schools.

"We want everyone to know what the policy is so everyone can be responsible and help each other," Escamilla said.

Students cheered as the governor sat at a desk in the auditorium and signed the three bills.

"We have got $4.8 billion of new money in public education," Herbert said. "Make us proud."

Email: rmorgan@deseretnews.com

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