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SALT LAKE CITY-- The so-called "65 percent rule" is back. Senate Bill 241 would require schools spend 65 percent of their general fund money on instructional use.
UEA President Kim Campbell is against it, saying, "It really is more about a mandate that would hamstring districts, especially in a time of budget cuts, to make those decisions they deem best for their local populations."
Campbell says 80 percent of Utah's schools already do this, but the rural districts may have to use their money differently.
"Why would you want to tie the hands of the people who can make the best decisions on behalf of kids at the local level?" Campbell asked.
She says on the surface it sounds like a good idea, but really it would affect things like guidance counselors, librarians, teacher assistants, transportation and extracurricular activities.
Supporters say it would greatly improve the quality of education in Utah.
Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, said he's sponsoring this bill to make sure that in these tight budget times, the classroom is not affected.
"When money is tight, where the rubber meets the road is not the place to go to cut," he said. He added, "When people are looking at tightening their budgets, the classroom should not be cut."
He says there seem to be some studies that show a correlation between the proportion of money spent in classrooms and how well students are doing.
In responding to the UEA's concern that other areas could be affected, he says many of them, like librarians, are within the 65 percent classroom spending rule.
Similar bills have failed in previous sessions.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
