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In a recent editorial, KSL suggested Utah educators have a credibility problem. According to a legislative audit, some school districts may have spent designated textbook money for purposes other than books.
Here is a portion of what State School Superintendent Steven O. Laing wrote in response to KSL’s expressed view:
“The 2001 Legislature appropriated nearly $24 million dollars, one-time, for textbooks. That large infusion of desperately needed funding was greatly appreciated; and, according to the independently audited financial statements of the school districts and charter schools, was appropriately spent for textbooks.”
“It is too simple to believe that a substantial purchase today eliminates the problem tomorrow. Since textbooks continually wear out, the need for textbooks begins to grow immediately after the last book was purchased. The conditions that led to the textbook deficit in 2001 continued past the satisfaction of that accrued need.”
“While it was reasonable for the legislature to require the expenditure of the one-time funds for textbooks, it is not reasonable to expect districts and charter schools to increase the local fund expenditure for textbooks, as stated in the audit, while their budgets are being cut.”
The complete text of Superintendent Laing’s reply can be found on our website at www.ksl.com.
