The
Legislature’s education budget committee violated the Open and Public Meetings
Act when it made certain recommendations about school funding this week, the
state school board alleged in a letter Friday to legislative leaders. The
committee voted to recommend gradually shifting part of the cost of charter
schools away from the state and onto school districts. It also voted to
recommend significant changes to funding for an elementary school arts program,
in a closed meeting.
Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
“After
weeks of public meetings and committee hearings on funding education, the
Education Appropriations Subcommittee, which Stephenson chairs, inserted
last-minute language into the bill that would shift as much as $80 million away
from local school districts to pay for students transferring to charter
schools.
Even
Republican Sen. Aaron Osmond was aghast at the secretive move, objecting that
such a policy should have had public scrutiny before being inserted as intent
language while the committee was giving final approval to the bill.
Stephenson
was understanding toward his fellow Republican. After all, Osmond is just a
rookie. He doesn’t understand the trench warfare tactics needed to counter
those subversive “Colorado Plan” sneaks.”
State Board Questions Legislature on Appropriations Meeting
Agenda
“The Board respectfully
requests that Legislative Leadership set aside the recommendations and
decisions of the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee. This action
should be taken in response to the Subcommittee’s violation of the Open and
Public Meetings Act and disregard for the Legislature’s commitment to fair and
open procedures in government.”
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