Poll: Majority of Utahns want to keep public education independent

SALT LAKE CITY -- Changing who oversees Utah's public education system might seem like a novel idea to some lawmakers, but a recent Deseret News/KSL survey by Dan Jones shows that notion isn't popular among the public.

At least three proposed constitutional amendments have been filed by various lawmakers seeking to change the distribution of powers between the governor, Legislature, and State Board of Education.

Results of a poll conducted Feb. 8-10 of 496 people show 57 percent of those surveyed don't want the state school board to be under greater control of the Legislature, which allocates nearly $3 billion for public education each year. The poll had a 4 percent margin of error.

Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, introduced legislation early in the session that would add four words to the Utah Constitution, to specify that the State Board of Education supervises education "as provided by statute."

Buttars told the Senate Education Committee shortly after his bill was introduced that he's concerned special interest groups have become "very entrenched in some our districts."

He said the State School Board doesn't do enough to ensure the curriculum taught in schools adheres to the values of the state. He said his resolution would allow the Legislature to get involved if the state board isn't keeping local boards in line.

"If things don't go properly, we could intervene," he told the committee.

Twenty-seven percent of those polled were in favor of Buttars' resolution.

Fifty-six percent of those surveyed didn't want the kind of governance system proposed by Sen. Stuart Reid, R-Ogden, where control and supervision of public and higher education would be given to the governor.

Reid said public and higher education can't work together like they should because they are being managed by different bodies. Putting both education systems under the governor's supervision would streamline that process.

"They all are competing for resources and they're not necessarily working together," he said. "The reason for the resolution is to place in the hands of the governor the authority to bring all of those interests together."

Reid's resolution would eliminate the constitutional authority of the state board. If the governor wanted to, he or she could eliminate the board entirely, although Reid said he doesn't think that's likely.

Reid's resolution was briefly reviewed by the Utah Constitutional Revisions Commission, a panel appointed by the governor and Legislature to review constitutional amendments. The commission makes recommendations based on its analysis, but wasn't prepared to advise lawmakers on Reid's proposal. Commissioner Byron Harward said the committee would like to study it during interim.

Twenty-nine percent of those surveyed favored Reid's resolution.

State Board member Kim Burningham said at a January board meeting there is a reason the powers have been distributed the way they are.

"Don't we really believe that when you separate power, you're less likely to have abuse?" Burningham said. "It's a protection and we're giving that protection away."

A third resolution would put the governor in charge of appointing all state board members in addition to the state superintendent, who is currently hired by the elected state board. That resolution is sponsored by Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo, and is awaiting a committee hearing.

Both Buttars' and Reids' resolutions have been advanced from committee to the full Senate.

All three resolutions to amend the state constitution would have to pass the House and Senate by a two-thirds majority. If they passed, the legislation would go on the ballot to be voted on by the public in the next general election.

E-mail: mfarmer@desnews.com

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